Working With Industry: Research Oppotunities

This page supplies supplementary information with a focus on Inward Business Investment in R&D, Commercial Outreach 

News

• Aug 2011 'Opportunity, choice and excellence in higher education' This HEFCE strategy statement sets out the approach taken to the challenges and opportunities of higher education reform. The statement emphasises the key principles of "opportunity, choice, and excellence" driving higher education, whilst regulating "to safeguard the collective interests of students while respecting the autonomy" of HEIs. It outlines HEFCEs investment strtegy by targeting of funding to "public benefit" and "ensuring investment follows learners decisions". For more information and the full statement see here
• Aug 2011 The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has commissioned PACEC to conduct an evaluation of its SPIRIT demand-led knowledge exchange programme. The first progress report of the evaluation has been published to SFC's website
• Aug 2011 The new ‘Mottainai’ pilot scheme is aimed easing the process by which patent protection is granted through the Patent Prosecution Highhway (PPH) in participating countries. This should provide simplified and more rapid patent protection to businesses operating in the US and Japan. For more, click here.
• March 2011 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills annouced the first of the TICs. Technology and Innovation Centres (TICs) will form an elite network of initially between 6 and 8 centres across the UK. The High Value Manufacturing TIC will be formed from a group of research and technology facilities from across the country. Including
  • Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Rotherham)
  • Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Rotherham)
  • Manufacturing Technology Centre (Coventry)
  • Advanced Forming Research Centre (University of Strathclyde)
  • National Composite Centre (University of Bristol) at SPark
  • Centre for Process Innovation (Wilton Centre and CPI PETEC at NETPark)
  • WMG (University of Warwick)

  For more information see here

• Feb 2011 The Science and Technology Committee today published the report on Technology and Innovation Centres (TICs) with an elite network of initially between 6 and 8 centres across the UK. The report states, the "role of the TICs would be to support business activity focused on the development and commercialisation of new technologies that originate in the research base and for which there is business demand”. Although the Government has committed £200 million for the purpose, funding is to follow the model elsewhere of one third from Government, one third from public-private sector and the remaining from private sector contracts. For the full report and more information see the parlimentary web pages here

• December 2010 Last month during a speech in London's east end the Prime Minister David Cameron announced an independent reveiw of the system of Intellectual Property. The panel of experts advising the chair of the review was announced today. Baroness Wilcox (Intellectual Property Minister) confirmed the panel will consist of Tom Loosemore, Roger Burt, Professor David Gann, Professor James Boyle and Professor Mark Schankerman.

  Tom Loosemore launched innovative internet services and has held senior positions in major media organisations. Roger Burt is the IP Law Counsel for IBM in Europe. He brings a business background to the panel with particular expertise in patents. Professor David Gann is Head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Imperial College. Professor James Boyle of Duke Law School is an expert in intellectual property law, open source production processes and new digital business models. Mark Schankerman is a Professor of Economics, London School of Economics, Research Associate at the Centre for Economic Performance (LSE) and at the Centre for Economic Policy Research. His research interests include R&D, innovation, and intellectual property rights.

  The panel of will advise the review chair, Ian Hargreaves, currently the chair of Digital Economy at the Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies and Cardiff Business School.
  

• November 2010 BBSRC has again launched the Innovator of the Year awards. This years awards for 2011 fall into three gategories recognising the commitment of individual scientists to the economic and social impact from their research. The three categories include Commercial Innovator of the Year, Social Innovator of the Year and Most Promising Innovator of the Year. The winner of one of these categories will then be selected as the overall Innovator of the Year 2011. More information and application form download Deadline for applications is 1 December 2010.

• October 20th 2010 Government Spending Review see this easy-to-browse" version of the document and if you really want to relive the pain here's a link to the Chancellor's speach

• October 10th 2010 David Willetts Minister for Universities and Science keynote speech at Innovate 10 on the the future of the Higher Education Innovation Fund, the role of the TSB and regional innovation and long term funding by the TSB of "Stratified Medicine" see Exquisite Life" or for the full text go the BIS Innovate 2010 page

• September 9th 2010 The Rt. Hon David Willetts MP, gave a speech at the Universities UK Annual Conference at Cranfield University. David Willetts (the Minister of State for Universities and Science, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills), his speech can be read in full at the News Distribution Service for the Government and the Public Sector here. Mr Willetts discussed various aspects of current policy in the light of the current economic climate in particular hight-lighting the "challenges facing the sector". However, much of what he said should be interpreted in the light of the uncertainty of the out come of the Lord Browne’s review and for the conclusion of the Comprehensive Spending Review. He talks candidly stating "yes cuts are coming. And – yes – sadly there will be some pain. But if we are smart and courageous and work together we can emerge with a stronger and better sector". Mr Willetts go on to outline the options "Efficiency savings", "Student numbers" and alternative options to University, "Graduates paying more" affirming "So we start to see the road ahead. We do need efficiency savings – doing more for less. We do need to provide alternatives to university for those young people who aren't cut out for that route. And we can expect graduates to contribute more"

  Regarding research funding Mr Willets says "The primary objective of public funding must be research excellence and international competitiveness". He highlights the Coalition governments belief in the importance of the University Sector in supporting "growth in the economy by boosting the performance of business, producing highly skilled people, improving public services and policy making, and by attracting R&D investment from global business". He closes with the recognition of the many ways in which HEIs "contribute to growth and wellbeing through knowledge transfer and exchange". Affirming his belief "this contribution must not be lost"

• 8th Sept 2010 Vince Cable Secretary of State Department for Business Innovation and Skills today gave a speech re-affirming Government belief that "science, research and innovation are vital to this country’s future economic growth". But given the economic environment and current financial constraint warns of hard times ahead. Mr Cable "lays down a challenge to the science and business communities to "come together, work together and plan a future together that makes the most of this country’s competitive advantages in financially difficult circumstances for the benefit of us all". to see the full speech click here.

• July 15th 2010 Doom and Gloom! Recent unemployment amoung graduates under the age of 24 has reached 14% in 2009 an increase of one quarter, this is said to be higher in men than women according to the Higher Education Policy Institute. Futher cuts in public spending is feared to impact on recruitment of the 39,000 graduate post provided each year. WIth the higher competition for jobs across the board approximately three quarters of employers that are taking on graduates require a 2:1 or better degree qualification suggested by a survey performed by Association of Graduate Recruiters.

• July 9th 2010HEFCE welcomes the announcment today of the revision of the proposed time table for Research Excellence Framework (REF). Stating "This will provide the UK higher education funding bodies, working with the sector, sufficient time to develop a robust method for assessing the impact of research, as part of the REF". HEFCE has not yet announced the chairs of the four main panels who will lead on the conduct and effectiveness of the process. For more information on REF

• July 9th 2010The government have indicated a delay in the research excellence framework by one year. David Willetts, the universities and science minister has indicated in an interview with the Times Higher Education Suppliment published on the 8th July, that he is yet to be convinced by the efficacy of the measures intended to indicate the social and economic impact of Universities. In his speech he justified the delay in order to “find a way of measuring the impact of science that is both sound and acceptable to the academic community” and that “This longer timescale will enable HEFCE, its devolved counterparts, and ministers to make full use of the pilot impact assessment exercise which concludes in the Autumn, and then to consider whether it can be refined.” REF was to completed by 2013. See the BIS web pages more information

• July 5th 2010AstraZeneca and MRC Technology, the commercialisation company for the UK’s Medical Research Council, announced a new strategic collaboration to share access to their respective libraries of compounds with the hope of helping in the search for new treatments for serious diseases. The combined libraries will total 150,000 compounds. AstraZenica see this development as part of their "increasing drive to access innovation from external sources". See the Atrazenica press release

• May 24th 2010The new coalition government annouces cost savings including £863 million by department for Business Innovation and Skills representing 3.9% of the department’s total budget. These are part of the wider £6 billion in savings across Government, as outlined by the Treasury.

  BIS is protecting spending on Research, Innovation, Business and Enterprise and student numbers in Higher Education, which will see an increase of 10,000 places.

  Instead, the savings will be delivered by through specific efficiencies, such as RDA funding and programmes like SBRI and the SME Adjudicator, and refocusing Train to Gain funding into new apprenticeships and investment in FE. To reach its £836 million of in year savings Ministers have agreed the following savings:

  • £100 million in efficiency savings across the department and its partner organisations.
  • £233 million UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation (UKCMRI) project for a new biomedical research facility to be located in Central London – the investment will now not be brought forward this year but spread over six years.
  • £ 74 million will be cut from the Regional Development Agencies – the total cut is £270 million shared between CLG, DECC, DEFRA and BIS.
  • £200 million in efficiencies from the Higher Education budget.
  • £200 million by refocusing the Train to Gain budget on apprenticeships and college buildings.
  • £18 million by stopping low priority projects like the Semantic web and the SME Adjudicator.
  • £11 million from the UK vocational reform budget.

• April 2010"Synergies and Trade-offs Between Research, Teaching and Knowledge Exchange": Why should universities and their academics engage with society? This latest report from PACEC and the Centre for Business Research (CBR), University of Cambridge explores "the synergies between knowledge exchange and the research and teaching activities of academics in the context of the increasing pressures on HEIs". It concludes with a ten point list of Implications and conclusions.

  The report points out that this is not a one-way agenda - higher education benefits from society as much as the more obvious benefit to society. For the full report see the CBR special report web pages

• 15th April 2010 Higher Education Statistics Agency annouced that income of Higher Education Institutions in 2008/09 was £25.4 billion. The HE Finance Plus 2008/09 published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency shows that the "total income of higher education institutions rose by 8.3% between 2007/08 and 2008/09 to £25.4 billion". Of this the Funding bodies provided £8.8 billion, while tuition fees and education contracts contributed £7.3 billion.

  For the first time HE Finance Plus 2008/09 also includes results of the annual Higher Education Business and Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey. The HE-BCI survey measures interactions between HE institutions and business and the wider community. The survey shows that HE institutions received £938 million from contracted research on behalf of external partners. HE institutions also earned £56.5 million in income from Intellectual Property in the form of licensing fees and royalties. For more see http://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php/content/view/1675/161/

• 25th Mar 2010 Saw the formal publication of The Hauser Review into Technology and Innovation Centres. The report and its outline recommendations have been made and submitted to Business secretary Lord Mandleson. The report calls for a new approach to investments into technology and Innovation Centres calling for a focus on platform technologies with global markets, technical advantage from leadership, a "defensible" technology position and the ability anchor the major income generation in the UK. The report has 14 recommendations for the full report: click here
• 24th Mar 2010 The UK governments March Budget: Impact on Enterprise and Innovation. A number of aspects of the Budget statement are relevant in this sector.
  • THE UK AS A CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION: The budet statement reiterated the the governments belief that success of the UK in winning business in global markets will depend on the ability to innovate and to take advantage of the UK's world-class research base. The chancellor also announced measures to encourage innovation particularly in the university sector and to facilitate the commercialisation of research and intellectual property.
  • The Patent Box: the 2009 Pre-Budget Report announced the introduction of a "Patent Box", applying a 10 per cent corporation tax rate to income from patents from April 2013. This will include looking at how to identify and value embedded patent income and how to give relief to acquired patents.
  • Hauser review identifies a strategic gap in commercialising research: The recommendations of the review (to be published on 25 March 2010) aim to take advantage of the UK's research strengths by providing investment focused on a new model for Technology and Innovation Centres. The Government is to adopt this recommendation and aims to put in place a strategy that identifies key technologies with a view to the next 10 years.
  • University Enterprise Capital Funds: The Government will invest up to £25 million in a University Enterprise Capital Fund, through UK Finance for Growth, which will provide early stage funding for the commercialisation of innovation.
  • IP pooling: The Government is facilitating discussions between a group of universities to explore options for a collaborative vehicle to commercialise Intellectual Property from their research, and to help access finance from private sector investors.
  • NHS intellectual Property: Consultation on a new gateway for the export of NHS Intellectual property and services is planned. This aims to take advantage of innovation across the NHS and the leading UK institutions in particular including five academic health science centres.
• Mar 2010 Science and Technology Committee - Sixth Report, The impact of spending cuts on science and scientific research. Interesting but sometimes bleak reading in particular the conclusions and recommendations. The supporting evidence provided to the Committee can be found at the following pages
• Mar 2010 The third paper was published this month by HEFCE in a series on knowledge exchange in the higher education (HE) sector. The paper entitled ‘Synergies and Trade-offs Between Research, Teaching and Knowledge Exchange’ can be found on the Public and Corporate Economic Consultants (PACEC) web-site.
  
  The series uses data gathered from the recent evaluation of the effectiveness and role of HEFCE/OSI third-stream funding so far, along side information gathered from the HEIF4.
  
  
• Nov 2009 Global Entrepreneurship Week saw the launch of 'Dare to be Different' on Thursday 19th Nov. This is a new programme resourcing social entrepreneurs within higher education institutions in England it is a program led jointly by UnLtd, the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and aims to support students and staff in HEIs to start up and grow new social ventures.
  
  
• 3rd Nov 2009 The Government has unveiled a new framework for the future success of higher education, setting out the important role universities will play in securing the country’s economic recovery and long term prosperity. The higher education framework, Higher Ambitions, sets out a strategy for universities to remain world class, providing the nation with the high level skills needed to remain competitive, while continuing to attract the brightest students and researchers.

  The framework sets out measures around:

  • competition
  • engagement of business
  • availibility of part-time, work-based and foundation degrees encouraging adult vocational education producing a workforce fit for business
  • reform of admissions
  • setting out whats on offer with respect to the nature and quality of courses
  • Sustaining our world class research base
  • Encouraging collaboration
  
  
  
• Nov 2009 New Report on Universities and the economy. A report produced by Strathclyde University into the economic impact of higher education, estimates that the University sector contributes around £59bn for the UK economy an increase of 25% over four years.

  The report is based on figures for 2007-8 but illustrates the increasing importance of universities. The report suggests Universities created, directly or indirectly, over 668,500 jobs - around 2.6% of the workforce and reflects the launch of the government's blueprint to for increasing the economic importance of universities within the overall economy. see A summary on the BBC

• Sept 2009 Social enterprises are an increasingly important part of the economy and could be an alternative vehicle to take an academic discovery or knowledge "to market". Social Enterprises suit ideas that don't generally fit a more traditional approach to commercialisation but are still attractive to the University sector.

  Angelia Ruskin University published a "rough guide" to Social Enterprises, containing in a nutshell information covering everything from what they are to how to find funding. click here The guide was pulled together by Corinna Frost of Anglia Ruskin University, based on information from a range of social enterprise support organisations and universities who have already had experience in this area. Thanks to Corinna and Anglia Ruskin for being willing to do this on behalf of the sector.

• Oct 2009 Economic and Social Research Council. The pilot ESRC Knowledge Exchange Small Grants Scheme is now open and is calling for applications.

  "This scheme provides funding (between £2,000 - £10,000 - non FEC) for social science PhD students, researchers and knowledge transfer professionals to undertake knowledge exchange and impact generating activity (applicants do not need to be ESRC-funded to apply). The scheme is not designed to fund new research but is explicitly for new knowledge exchange or impact generating activity that may include events, networks, policy briefings, mini exchange projects, online blog sites etc. Applicants are encouraged to think creatively about the format of the knowledge exchange/engagement projects they put forward."

  • for more information click here
  • All applications should be made via the Research Council Joint Electronic Submission System (Je-S), and submitted to ESRC by no later than 4.00pm on 3rd December 2009.
• Sept 2009 The UK Innovation Research Centre (UK-IRC) announced it will be launching the results of the latest survey based research on how British academics interact with businesses and other sectors of the economy.

  The research looked at over 20,000 respondents and shows significant interaction between the academic science base and business, but there are also significant unseen interactions. The research shows that significant links between business and academia involves a the wider exchange of knowledge than merely "technology transfer". The work shows very small proportion of UK academics are involved in spin-outs, licensing or patents, however, the most frequent forms of knowledge exchange includes informal advice, joint publications, consultancy and a wide range of other activities.

• Sept 2009 HEFCE announces consultantion on proposals for the Research Excellence Framework. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the new system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions (HEIs) replacing the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) by 2013. HEFCE will issue guidance on on REF in 2010. REF will focus three major elements including impact on the economy , dissemination and the application of research excellence.
• Outputs informed by expert review, citation
• Impact including demonstrable benefit to the economy, socirty, public policy, culture and quality of life
• Environment - taking account of the quality of the research environment in supporting excellence, dissemination and application

The Second consultation on the assessment and funding of research along with the consultation document can be downloaded from HEFCE September 2009/38

• Aug 3rd 2009The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) will move forward on the proposed UK Investment Fund (proposed in June 09) by releasing invitations to potential fund managers, detailing the parameters of the fund and information expected from them. Click here to read more.
• July 2009In response to the global economic down-turn, the universities have responded to the pressures it has placed on students, graduates and businesses around the UK. The UKK has published a report giving examples of actions taken by universities http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/Publications/Pages/FromRecessionToRecovery.aspx This response to short term needs includes providing extra help for graduates, giving easier access to university expertise and targeted help for industries which are in difficulty, helping them innovate and survive.
  
  In the longer term long term Universities aim to improve graduates’ chances of stable employement, or assisting businesses to increase their productivity. Although this report emphasises the speed and responsiveness of universities’ to the recession, the fundamental argument demonstrated by in the report is that universities are vital to the UK’s long-term recovery toward economic health and sustainability.
• June 29th 2009 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, with the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Department of Health, announced the intension to invest £150 million alongside private sector investment. The Government believes that this could leverage enough private investment to build a fund of up to £1 billion over the next 10 years. The UK Innovation Investment Fund forms part of the Government’s strategy for Building Britain’s Future and aims to increase the early stage Venture Capital funding available in order to help develop technology companies of the future. UKIF will opereate as a fund of funds investing in technology funds and not directly into individual companies. For more details, visit: www.hmg.gov.uk/buildingbritainsfuture
• June 2009 The Government has created a new Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whose key role will be to build Britain's capabilities to compete in the global economy. The Department will result from the merger of BERR and DIUS.

  To compete in a global economy and create the jobs of the future Britain requires a regulatory environment that encourages enterprise, skilled people, innovation, and world-class science and research. The merger aims at bringing together key skills and expertise in these areas. The merger combines BERR's strengths in shaping the enterprise environment, analysing the strengths and needs of the various parts of British industry, building strategies for industrial strength and expertise in better regulation with DIUS's expertise in maintaining world class universities, expanding access to higher education, investing in the UK's science base and shaping skills policy and innovation through bodies such as the Technology Strategy Board.

  The merger puts the Further Education system and universities closer to the heart of government thinking which can only be beneficial in the recession. The new department is the part and parcel of the approach to promoting UK competitiveness and productivity as set out in the "New Industries, New Jobs" paper of April 2009,(See http://www.dius.gov.uk/news_and_speeches/announcements/bis)

• 19 May 2009 STFC (Science and Technology Facilities Council) has reopened the RSE/STFC Enterprise Fellowships scheme, closing date 19 May 2009. The scheme is run jointly by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE). Enterprise Fellowships aim to encourage exploitation of the STFC research programme. Applications may be submitted on any subject provided that the original research or technological developments have their origin as part of a programme largely funded by STFC (formerly PPARC and CCLRC), or EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council). Fellowships include one year's salary costs and some additional support funding, and can be held at any UK Higher Education Institution or Institution that agrees to host the work. The Fellowships provide a unique opportunity for researchers to spend a year gaining business training whilst developing the commercialisation of their existing research. The training provided aims to support fellows through an active process of business planning and implementation. Please contact afraser@royalsoced.org.uk for further details on the scheme and Sue.fuller@stfc.ac.uk on questions of eligibility.
  
• April 2009  "Evaluation of the effectiveness and role of HEFCE/OSI third stream funding" Report to HEFCE is published. This report attempts to assess the impact of third stream funding in terms of social and ecconomic benefit particularly through the embedding of a culture of and the capacity for knowledge exchange within HEIs. This report marks 10 years of change (see HEFCE web site or open the report as a pdf)
• April 23, 2009 - UK Government promises a £750million investment fund to support high potential technology businesses met mixed responses. NESTA's Chief Executive, comments "Today the Government took a vital step on the road to recovery and the future looks a lot brighter for the UK's entrepreneurs. The Fund will give a new vibrancy to the UK's technology market and will bring about deep and lasting change to our economy". Whilst the Chief Executive of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association states "deeply disappointed by the decision to create a vague Strategic Investment Fund, which looks like a return to the public sector seeking to "pick winners" (but ultimately subsidise losers), rather than the highly targeted UK Innovation Fund for venture capital in which the private sector would have played a pivotal role."
• April 2009 Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) published the paper ‘New Industry, New jobs’ frames a national discussion on policy which will result in the successful recovery and growth of the UK economy. At the heart of this discussion is support for science and innovation (see section 3). Download the report
• April 2009 The Royal Society announced an inquiry (due to be published March 2010) into the role that science will play in enabling Britain to meet the future economic, social and environmental challenges. The "Fruits of Curiosity: science, innovation and future sources of wealth" will look beyond the current Investment Framework to assess the long-term direction of UK research policy and investment,  see the Royal Society press release
• March 2009 St George's Enterprise Fund Announced The Centre for Enterprise & Innovation is pleased to announce its new Enterprise Fund, promoting enterprise & innovation in the life science sector. The Centre is offering our staff and students funds to find new solutions to life science and biomed issues! Awards of £10-15k are available to fund a range of enterprise related activities. If you feel that your work and ideas have something new to offer contact the Enterprise Centre. For further details go to the Centre for Enterprise & Innovation website

  The scheme is open to all staff and students at SGUL including the Faculty of Health & Social Care Sciences or download the pdf.
  

• Mar 2009 Several organisations including AURIL and London Technology Network are shortly hosting events aimed at promoting how HEIs can contribute to the economic prosperity by working with bussiness during the global economic down turn.
  • AURIL is hosting an event entitiled "How Institutions can add value to the UK economy!" on the 7th May 2009 at 1 George Street London, register To here. The event aims to increase awareness of the contribution of knowledge transfer in meeting the downturn challenge, short and long term, and to share good practice across the HE sector on what is working on the ground. The event is sponsored by HEFCE and supported by UUK.
  • London Technology Network Event entitled "Financing Research & Development During a Changing Global Economy". The workshop, to be held at the Royal Society on 22 April 2009, will feature presentations from two funding body representatives, case studies of successful fundraising rounds, and industrial and academic perspectives. Companies and academics from across the Greater South-East are invited to attend. The event will have a specific focus on life science technologies, and provide insights into how to write successful bid applications, and best practice tips for collaborating with multiple research partners. To register for the event or for more information contact Emma on 0870 730 8688, or at e.graham@LTNetwork.org. A finalised programme will be posted online at www.LTNetwork.org soon.
• 26th February 2009 A portal to help researchers and businesses find funding for knowledge transfer opportunities was launched during the latter part of Feb.
  Research Councils UK have created a 'one-stop-shop' which gives details of all seven research councils' knowledge transfer schemes and activities and how to get involved. The activities are divided into four areas:
  • Collaborative Research;
  • Collaborative Training;
  • People Exchange;
  • and Commercialisation and Development.
  
  Portal users can read a brief description of each activity and then click straight through to the relevant website for further information. Click here to view the The RCUK Knowledge Transfer Portal.
• 23rd February 2009 The European Commission's Enterprise and Industry Directorate is has recently published new calls for proposals on the 'Entrepreneurial culture of young people and entrepreneurship education' deadlines of 20th April. See these pages for more information
• 12th February 2009 The Times Higher Education (THE) today has a brief article reporting on the views from the universities of the Lambert Agreements (a series of model legal agreements drawn up by the Government to help foster research collaborations). Resulting from a survey carried out of those responders:
  • 40 per cent were already using the contracts and a further 20 per cent planned to use them
  • Of those already using the agreements, 60 per cent said they had saved the university time, and the same proportion believed their use led to better agreements
  • More than half (55 per cent) said they saved money, and just under a third said they provided useful information.
  • for the more see THE
• 28th January 2009 - HEFCE launched the Economic Challenge Investment Fund (ECIF) to enable higher education to respond to the needs of employers and individuals during the economic downturn. The scheme managed by HEFCE makes available £50 million to Higher Educational Institutions aimed at helping individuals and businesses through the recession. (More information is contained in the 'Economic Challenge Investment Fund – Invitation to apply for funding' HEFCE Circular letter 03/2009 to heads of higher education institutions and HEFCE-funded further education colleges, available from the publications section of the HEFCE website .
• 8th Oct 2008 Rt. Hon. John Denham, Secretary of State for the Dept. for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DUIS) announced the publication of the new Lambert Tool-Kit for Collaborative Research. see the web site and up dated Lambert tool-kit including the five model agreements these first appeared in 2003 following the Lambert review
• June 2008 The European Commision published a Green Paper on the ERA, a key building block of the Community's "knoledge Based Society", "The European Research Area: New Perspectives" the paper deals with asperations for the ERA if europe is to compete with the trend in globalisation of Science and Technology (see http://ec.europa.eu/research/era/progress-on-debate/expert-groups-analyses_en.html)
  The paper focuses 6 main areas of need:
  • "Adequate flow of competent researchers, with high levels of mobility between institutions, disciplines, sectors & countries"
  • "World class research infrastructures, integrated, networked & accessible to research teams from across Europe & the world, notably thanks to new generations of electronic communication infrastructures"
  • "Excellent research institutions, engaged in effective public-private co-operation and partnerships, forming the core of research and innovation clusters including virtual research communities. Such clusters & communities would be mostly specialised in interdisciplinary areas and would attract a critical mass of human & financial resources"
  • "Effective knowledge-sharing notably between public research & industry, as well as with the public at large"
  • "Well-coordinated research programmes & priorities, including significant jointlyprogrammed public research investment at European level with common priorities, coordinated implementation & joint evaluation"
  • Opening the European Research Area to the world with special emphasis on neighbouring countries & a strong commitment to addressing global challenges with Europe's partners.
  
  
• 14th March 2008 The DUIS on behalf of the Government launched a White Paper on Science and Innovation (to see the press release)
• 29th Jan 2008 St George’s, University of London (SGUL) has recently become part of the Research Tools London (RTL) consortium funded by The London Development Agency (LDA). RTL aims to aid London universities in the commercialisation of Research Tools by pooling tools from institutions across London.
  
  Any revenue generated will be shared between researchers and St George’s, University of London as noted in Financial Regulations. SGUL research staff will not be required to negotiate with potential licensees or spend time working on the commercial agreements. This will be taken care of by SGUL Centre for Enterprise & Innovation and the RTL team.