Tanaka Business School Launch event - report

The Business of Science - The importance of business expertise to your scientific future.

Alumni, Friends and supporters of Imperial College attended a special launch event for Tanaka Business School on Thursday 15 July 2004. The event provided guests with an exclusive opportunity to view the College's new landmark building and find out more about innovative science at the College.

Guests filled the Atrium area of the new main College entrance for the informative and celebratory evening, jointly hosted by the Rector, Sir Richard Sykes, and Professor David Begg, Principal, Tanaka Business School. They enjoyed a champagne and canap reception and musical entertainment in this remarkable setting.

Two of Imperial's leading academics and innovators, Professor Richard Kitney, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, and Professor James Barlow, Chair in Technology and Innovation Management, spoke to the assembled guests about the importance of marrying science and business successfully.

Professor Barlow was first to speak about Telecare, a project which has developed technology to enable online medical consultation. Professor Barlow was also on hand to describe the venture to Her Majesty the Queen, when she opened Tanaka Business School at the end of June. Professor Kitney followed and spoke about ComMedica, one of the College's successful spinout companies. Professor Kitney and his team have developed a clinical information system for patient data which has recently been awarded a significant contract with the NHS.

Around the atrium, a variety of installations demonstrated the College's long tradition of producing staff and graduates who innovate and produce practical solutions for real problems. The College was delighted to welcome exhibits from Tunstall, Bodyimaging, Ceres Power, 3M and Dyson. Historical displays highlighting some of the College's Nobel Prize winners were also exhibited.

Following the speeches, many guests took the opportunity to take a guided tour of the new building and find out more about the current courses available from academic staff, current students and alumni of the Business School.