What gives Entrepreneurs that X Factor?

In the 21st century, the X Factor might be having the right knowledge to seize an opportunity and run with it. It might be the ability to lever new technologies to make your ideas happen. It could be who you know, how you know them and how you form new types of relationships with different sorts of people.

Is this different from what made Manchester the hub of the Industrial Revolution? Then, innovation depended on access to capital and resources, being able to harness technical skills and persuade people that you new fangled innovation was really a good idea. All this without Twitter, Facebook, the Internet and global communications!

In the 19th century, people thought of local markets first but they worked in the context of a wider world. Is this really so different from what happens now?

Well, the big difference is the types of knowledge driving innovation now. How you create and sustain relationships over long distances. How new markets are identified and sustained nationally and internationally. The way that new technologies impact on every aspect of personal and business operations.

This is where universities come in and Manchester Met University is proud to be involved in RAW 2010. We are part of a second academic revolution, developing useful knowledge to support innovation, working as knowledge enterprises to make things happen. Don’t just take my word for it though. Get to know the people helping to develop 21st century enterprises and find out how they can work with you to make new ideas happen.