Report of Far East Trip

29th July 2016

Unconventional Connections is my new consultancy that aims to make use of my extensive international contacts and knowledge to help entrepreneurs, researchers and officials find partners and investors to enable international innovation initiatives to succeed.

I am also leading the Woven Network the UK's network of entrepreneurs and researchers looking at the opportunities around insect protein. I have just got back from the first Unconventional Connections trip to the Far East and it has been enormously encouraging meeting new partners and securing potential investment for clients. Where did I go? In ten days I fitted in meetings in Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpar, Beijing, Shanghai and a large pig farm outside of a -small Chinese city in rural Hunan. Who did I meet? In no particular order · The UN's innovation advisor covering Asia Pacific, UKTI Directors responsible for Thailand and Malaysia, Consul General in Shanghai and Head of Science and Innovation in Asia Pacific plus members of her team · Senior managers/CEO in Malaysian Innovation Agencies AIM and PlatCOM. · Vice Provost of Research and Knowledge Exchange, Head of Business Engagement and Innovation Services, and member of the Crops for the Future programme, University of Nottingham in Malaysia · Vice president, Shanghai Shendi (Group) Ltd (owns the land of Disney Resort outside of Shanghai), CEO and senior managers of Truein Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Group (farming pure bred organic, free range pigs), CEO of Bugsolutely (makes pasta out of cricket flour) and founder of EntoThai, equivalent of Woven Network in Thailand · Director of ChinaEquity · CEO and his team at Carter Sky Chinese Developer. · An Organic Farmscape Architect consultant working in China · Director responsible for Education, training & talent development at China Britain Business Council (CBBC) · Committee Manager, EU Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry Innovation & Research Committee and Angel investor · CEO of APACMED Asia Pacific Association of Medical Technology businesses · A room full of officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development (CASTED) · Global Business Development Manager at z-Innoway, Beijing · A taxi driver with a degree in agribusiness who was intrigued by the possibility of starting an insect farm on his family's farm in Malaysia What has this trip achieved and for who? · Secured a commission for one of my main clients, Garden of Ideas, to carry out a pre-feasibility study as a first step towards the first of these radical new innovation-focused visitor attractions, and a potential investment of 200m RMB · Materially progressed discussions regarding at least four other potential Garden of Ideas sites · Secured agreement for another client, the Cambridge University Institute for Manufacturing, to submit a proposal for the next phase of its project with the Malaysian innovation agencies to support innovation in their manufacturing sector · Identified the basis for a location, farmer and investor for a new Malaysian insect farm in which I am looking forward to taking a personal interest · Identified the basis for R&D collaborations between Woven members and Chinese/Thai/Malaysian insect farmers, farming technology developers and researchers and secured UKTI interest in this as a promising area for them to support · Established a number of potential customers for the support packages I am developing (and gathering further evidence to support this) in international innovation collaboration · Promoted another client's project, the Judge Business Academy, with Chinese investors and developers, securing valuable feedback for Sir Paul Judge · Learnt a lot about agriculture in China and insect farming in Thailand. · Significantly extended my network and reinforced the friendships I already have, helped me grow my familiarity with navigating some key countries in the Far East and left me looking forward to getting out there again soon! · Had the most enjoyable and diverse set of eating experiences without any ill effects! I believe Unconventional Connections is living up to its name!