Paul Thorning

Biography

Paul is a Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Practice and Director of Open Innovation in the University of Bradford School of Management. Paul leads the University of Bradford Accelerated Entrepreneurship Programme, which provides opportunities for students, researchers, staff and community members to establish and grow successful business and social enterprises. Paul also directs the UK-China Healthtech Open Innovation programme, which has secured over £11m for collaborative research and innovation between UK/EU and Chinese academics, clinicians and companies.

Paul is also a co-founder and CEO of CrystecPharma, a University of Bradford technology spin-out company focused on improving the performance of medicines, working with industry clients world-wide as well as developing its own portfolio of differentiated pharmaceutical products. The company has operations, joint ventures and strategic partnerships spanning the UK, Europe, Switzerland, China and the US.

Paul has broad technical and business experience from the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, where he held engineering, research, product development and commercial roles to executive level. He also has experience of establishing and running NGOs and spent three years as a Director of a UN refugee health programme in Tanzania. He has been involved in establishing, growing and exiting several business, has run his own dynamic strategy consulting company, has held executive advisory and board roles in companies, trade associations and NGOs, and was appointed by the UK government as the National Focal Point for Health and Innovation with China.

Paul speaks four languages (and is learning Chinese), holds an MBA, professional membership of the Institute of Marketing, is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.