Opening remarks

The Manufacturing Summit shapes the debate between industry and government.

2012 sees the Manufacturing Summit tackle the important issues surrounding an industry that government is calling on to rescue the economy through wealth creation and export thus Making UK Manufacturing Internationally Competitive.

Dr Mike Short FREng BA, President - Institution of Engineering and Technology
Mike’s career spans 37 years in Electronics and Telecommunications, with the last 24 years in Mobile Communications. After working for Philips, Landis and Gyr, and BT, he was appointed in 1989 as Director of Cellnet (now part of Telefonica and branded O2 UK ) dealing with major infra-structure investments and commercial agreements. In 1992 the focus moved to launching Cellnet’s GSM service and establishing Roaming Agreements. He also handled international business development and helped to win overseas mobile licenses and undertook some of the first mobile training in India.

Mike’s focus today is on European Public policy that relates to innovation, whether research, the responsible use of mobiles or new business development. This includes a focus on Advanced mobile services and data applications including Mobile Learning, Smart Metering, Transport Telematics and Connected Healthcare.

In the last 5 years Mike has also been appointed Visiting Professor at Surrey University, De Montfort, Lancaster, and Leeds Universities and to the Boards of Coventry University and Ravensbourne College. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate in 2008 for services to the Mobile Communications industry. He is a Fellow of IET/BCS/RGS/ Royal Academy and a Member of the Royal Television Society.