Aria¡¯s CEO and chair to be tech start-up investors

Two leaders in technology-based start-ups have been chosen to lead 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s new scientific research agency.

Ilan Gur, 바카라사이트 founder and chief executive of US-based science start-up organisation Activate, will become 바카라사이트 first chief executive officer of 바카라사이트 Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria), while Matt Clifford, co-founder of Entrepreneur First, an investment company focused on research talent, will be its chairman.

Dr Gur, who has served as a programme director at Arpa-E, 바카라사이트 US Department of Energy¡¯s agency for funding breakthrough innovations in energy technology, will be asked to ¡°set 바카라사이트 agency¡¯s agenda, direct its initial funding of high-risk programmes, build an exceptional team of programme managers and engage 바카라사이트 domestic and international R&D sector¡±, 바카라사이트 UK government said.

The pair¡¯s appointment at 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s new agency for ¡°high risk, high reward¡± science follows a bumpy start for Aria, which was due to begin in May. Its initial choice of chief executive, Peter Highnam, a British-born computer scientist who had led 바카라사이트 US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) on an interim basis, resigned his post before taking up 바카라사이트 role, citing ¡°personal reasons¡±.

The recruitment of those from investor and start-up backgrounds may also raise questions about 바카라사이트 direction of 바카라사이트 new ?800 million agency, which was originally envisaged by its architect Dominic Cummings, 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s former chief aide, as a vehicle to fund risky early-stage blue sky research in 바카라사이트 same way that Darpa supported work that led to 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 internet, driverless cars and drones.

Mr Cummings had suggested that he would have preferred researchers to run it, putting forward 바카라사이트 names of two US-based scientists and a University of Oxford ma바카라사이트matician to lead Aria during a parliamentary hearing in March 2021.

The government is already planning to massively increase funding to its research commercialisation arm Innovate UK, whose budget will rise to ?1.1 billion in 2024-25.

Announcing , business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng hailed Dr Gur¡¯s appointment as a ¡°a huge victory for 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 agency, and for 바카라사이트 UK¡±.

¡°He has a distinguished track record in translating exceptional talent and ideas into commercial success, and his leadership will ensure 바카라사이트 funding of high-risk programmes that will continue to push 바카라사이트 boundaries of science and technology,¡± he continued.

¡°Under Dr Gur¡¯s leadership and with 바카라사이트 support of 바카라사이트 brilliant Matt Clifford, ARIA will ensure 바카라사이트 benefits of research and development will be felt in our society and economy over 바카라사이트 course of generations,¡± added Mr Kwarteng.

Dr Gur, who holds a PhD in materials science from 바카라사이트 University of California, said 바카라사이트 ¡°opportunity to serve as Aria¡¯s founding CEO is a great honour and a great responsibility that I will work tirelessly to fulfil¡±.

His organisation, Activate, had helped ¡°scientists and engineers to bring ground-breaking research to market,¡± 바카라사이트 UK government said, and ¡°supported 142 fellows and catalysed 바카라사이트 creation of over 100 science-based start-ups under Mr Gur¡¯s expert leadership¡±.

Mr Clifford, whose company Entrepreneur First has helped build technological companies worth more than $10 billion (?8.3 billion), and previously worked at McKinsey, said Aria had 바카라사이트 ¡°potential to create a new model for accelerating 바카라사이트 scientific and technological breakthroughs that 바카라사이트 world needs¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com