Monday 21st November 2011

Left to right - Stephen Phillips, Shaikh, Yury Bikbaev, His Excellency Rob Fenn, Neil Gregory and Stuart Kemp.

The Britan Brunei Business Forum held a high-tea session on Monday 21st November in Kuala Belait. As part of recognising the  importance of SMEs and research, especially when it comes to diversifying Brunei's economy. A guest speaker was invited from the UK to help answer the question on 'how a nation's research base can help the growth of SMEs in the country.

Neil Gregory is a UK expert in harnessing the results of research for wealth creation. He was the Director of Research and Project Development at the London School of Economics (LSE) for 15 years, where his duties included the commercialisation of academic knowledge into new products and services. Currently, Neil is associated with Cambridge University's Institute for Manufacturing. He is particularly interested in reducing the amount of time that it takes for a scientific breakthrough to go from the laboratory to the marketplace.

Before joining the LSE in 1990, Neil served as an officer in the Royal Navy, prior to which he worked in investment banking in London. Neil has degrees in Industrial Economics and Business Law.

Neil was in Brunei to help the Brunei Research Council and its Chairman, the Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister's Office, develop further in how it supports and incentivises indigenous research capabilities for the future benefit of Brunei. That includes the role, which a research base can help with Brunei's economic diversification and local business development.

During his time in Brunei, Neil engaged with various stakeholders who will have key roles in taking this forward, not least of which is Brunei Shell Petroleum and through them the community of contractors and sub-contractors in the oil and gas sector.

With thanks to the British High Commission and Brunei Shell Petroleum who co-sponsoring the project, the BBBF has been very fortunate to be able to share this opportunity to learn from Neil some of the best practices in the commercial exploitation of research and what these may mean for Brunei's local business development.

Left to right - Chairman of BBBF Stuart Kemp, BBBF member Mark Grieves, Neil Gregory, Stephen Phillips and Shaikh.

Neil presenting presenting to various SMEs

BBBF members and attendees

Neil Gregory with Shaikh of Serikandi Sdn Bhd