The University of British Columbia is forging ahead with its Innovation Strategy, announcing the appointment of Angus Livingstone as UBC’s Innovation Catalyst, effective February 17, 2014.
The UBC Innovation Strategy aims to leverage the university’s research and educational activities in order to further contribute to job creation, economic growth and social benefits in British Columbia and beyond.
“The implementation of the Innovation Strategy is now well underway,” said Vice President of Communications and Community Partnership, Pascal Spothelfer. “Angus brings a wealth of experience and connections to his new role, allowing him to tie together the individual elements of the strategy. He will not only set the implementation in motion, but also accelerate it.”
Livingstone will be leaving his current role of Managing Director of UBC’s University-Industry Liaison Office, a position he has held since 1999. “This new role builds on Angus’ strong understanding of UBC’s research effort,” said Vice President Research and International John Hepburn. “His leadership of the UILO helped us achieve tremendous success for our knowledge mobilization.”
On February 17, J.P. Heale will become the UILO’s Interim Managing Director. Dr. Heale has been an Associate Director of the office since 2004, working extensively with external stakeholders and researchers across UBC and its affiliated teaching hospitals.
The five-point UBC Innovation Strategy includes the creation of a Corporate Relations Office to facilitate closer working relations with the business sector; the creation of a wholly-owned subsidiary to facilitate faculty consulting and major project business development; the reorganization and expansion of the entrepreneurship e@UBC program; the growing of the “Campus as a living lab” model beyond campus; and the re-engineering of the University-Industry Liaison Office.
BACKGROUND
Angus Livingstone
Graduating from UBC with a B.Sc. in Computer Science in 1983, Livingstone joined the UILO in 1988 where he has held various positions relating to industry-sponsored research, technology transfer and the management of UILO operations. Under his leadership, UBC has consistently ranked as the leading Canadian university and has gained international recognition for its technology transfer and commercialization activities. Livingstone has played critical roles in the creation of many Canadian technology transfer and commercialization initiatives. He brings to his new role in-depth understanding of the complexities of the university environment and its interactions with industry and external stakeholders. While relinquishing his position at the UILO, Livingstone retains his current board positions and will continue to be project leader on the genomics entrepreneurship program delivered in partnership with Genome Canada and Genome BC.
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