MORE than 2,000 people flocked to this year’s Malvern Festival of Innovation to discover the emerging ideas, creative designs and new technology changing the future.
Highlights of this year’s week-long event – organised by the social enterprise Innovate Malvern CIC – included renowned mathematician and author Marcus du Sautoy discussing his new book ‘What We Cannot Know’, as he expanded the horizons of the 150-strong audience at Malvern College.
A new ‘StartUp Stories’ event at The Coach House Theatre saw celebrity entrepreneurs Nick Holzherr, a finalist in the 2014 televsion show The Apprentice, and Dragons’ Den winner Neil Westwood, join forces with local entrepreneur Alastair Shortland of TextLocal to enthuse over an attentive auditorium about the trials and tribulations of being your own boss.
The packed programme also included the Next Generation Innovators Day at the Three Counties Showground.
More than 750 students and teachers from nearly 20 schools across Herefordshire and Worcestershire attended the event, which brought the world of science, technology and engineering alive through a series of interactive exhibits.
There was more fun for all ages at the Family Day held at Malvern Theatres, with Dr Emily Grossman talking about cloning and stem cells, and ‘Rock Doctor’ Dr Mark Lewney explaining Superstring Theory with his custom Ibanez electric guitar. An array of exhibitors provided hands-on demonstrations of chemistry, physics, electronics, and design technology in the foyers.
The whole programme kicked off when more than 130 people braved the October chill to watch an open air screening of cult film ‘The Matrix’ at Priory Park.
Dr Adrian Burden, founder and curator of the Festival, said: “We had another fantastic week of fascinating insights and cutting-edge ideas from people who travelled to Great Malvern from around the UK. Of particular note was the cyber security symposium with a record-breaking attendance to the extent that we had to close registration early.”
Now in its fifth year, the festival is supported by Malvern Hills District Council and with additional support from numerous sponsors including Palladium Sponsor Wynne Jones IP, and Gold Sponsors QinetiQ and the Three Counties Showground.
Coun Phil Grove, Leader of Malvern Hills District Council, said: “We will continue to support the The Malvern Festival of Innovation as it focuses on the future opportunities for businesses and our young people. We want next year’s festival to be even bigger and better, and welcome any proposals from local businesses or the community to run fringe events to bring the benefits of the festival out into the town and continue Malvern’s legacy as the home of innovation.”
