Panos Bokas and Salini Thayaparan are masters students working with BAR Associates.

Exeter Students collaborate with new Innovation Centre Company

Two University of Exeter computer science masters students are working with new Innovation Centre Company, BAR Associates Ltd. The collaboration has enabled the company to access a high calibre knowledge base provided by the students with the opportunity to experience an innovative forward-thinking company such as BAR.

Panos Bokas and Salini Thayaparan are Computer Science masters students and were delighted when the opportunity came up to work with BAR.
Panos said: “I am delighted with the opportunity to be engaged with the BAR Associates projects as this provides a real challenge in an innovative company. This has resulted in gaining significant experience to develop and apply the knowledge gained from my Masters Course into a real world business application and environment. I am thankful for the opportunity that Robin and Charlie have offered and the guidance they have given, enabling me to contribute to an exciting development for their business.”

Salini said: “The overall experience gained at BAR Associates is incredible as I have had the opportunity to put my learning into practice. I also have gained more knowledge of the business environment and been able to learn more about advanced techniques and approaches that fit in the business world. I am grateful for having chosen BAR as my internship programme and thankful to my mentors for guiding me in this work."

BAR Associates provides an innovation growth and change solution to those companies with strategic potential in the defence and security sectors. The company is comprised of two partners alongside specialist core associates covering a wide range of specialist areas from technology innovation, business development, intellectual property development and digital marketing, all backed with specific defence and security domain knowledge.
The company’s recent move to the Innovation Centre is one which has fostered new relationships and enabled growth of the company’s areas of expertise. Director, Robin King explained:

“We’re delighted with our new home at the Innovation Centre; based on the University of Exeter campus we have direct links to academics, students and research facilities. The knowledge and insight that Panos and Salini have brought to our development projects is fantastic. The business support team at the centre has also empowered us to foster links to the Met Office, SETsquared Partnership and College of Mathematics and Physical Science. We are a progressive company driven by providing a solid foundation for accelerating the companies we advise to realise their strategic potential. There is an eight hundred million pound Government investment fund available for our sector and we’re proud to be based here in Exeter to provide opportunity for those in the area to develop into world class businesses.”

Joe Pearce, Business Support at the Innovation Centre said: “It’s great to have the team from BAR at the centre. They are already exploring several collaboration opportunities and have some big projects in the pipeline. I’m very pleased that they chose the Innovation Centre to grow and develop their business.”

Date: 4 July 2017