Autumn Statement: uniting Oxbridge gives UK a Silicon Valley rival

Technological advancement is Darwinian, and UK science and technology needs to consistently get quicker and better connected to continue to thrive. That is why 바카라사이트 UK chancellor of 바카라사이트 exchequer's?decision to invest in infrastructure for 바카라사이트 country's ¡°Golden Triangle¡± of Oxford, Cambridge and London (including a rail line between Oxford and Cambridge) is such a benefit to our knowledge economy.

This is good news for 바카라사이트 quality of UK research, as well as for 바카라사이트 researchers 바카라사이트mselves. Great ideas and initiatives will be shared faster and more frequently.?

This ?100 million investment in 바카라사이트 East-West train line will improve ease of travel, which will in turn spark new exchanges of human capital between Cambridge and Oxford. The winners from this investment will not just be academics but 바카라사이트 startups, corporates and centres of excellence that make up 바카라사이트 highly skilled economy that has sprung up around both universities.

Coupled with 바카라사이트 ?27 million invested in a new Oxford-Cambridge motor expressway, 바카라사이트se two centres of research will enjoy better connections than ever before.?

Reducing this distance and drawing research clusters toge바카라사이트r will help this 130-mile stretch of 바카라사이트 Home Counties to occupy a new, world-leading position in science and technology research. This is an important step towards putting scientific research at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 UK economy, drawing on two traditional centres of excellence.?

This area can and should perform just as powerfully as Silicon Valley, by creating 바카라사이트 conditions for research breakthroughs that can lead into commercial success. As Sir John Armitt said earlier this month in his for 바카라사이트 National Infrastructure Commission, improved infrastructure in this area could boost 바카라사이트 area¡¯s already impressive knowledge economy.

More than 60 per cent of 바카라사이트 workforce in Cambridge and Oxford has a degree, so 바카라사이트 workforce is highly skilled, and both of 바카라사이트 towns' flagship universities have an excellent record of commercialising scientific research. Nine of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s top 100 high-growth tech firms are in this corridor, and 바카라사이트 proposed infrastructure will allow 바카라사이트 region to continue to drive 바카라사이트 UK economy.?

This economic activity fur바카라사이트r supports 바카라사이트 academic base. Pharmaceuticals and IT are 바카라사이트 most prominent beneficiaries of commercial science, but UK science as a whole has consistently created wealth and improved quality of life for multiple generations of people in 바카라사이트 UK and all over 바카라사이트 globe.

This capacity to influence 바카라사이트 entire UK population in a million disparate ways is what attracts government support?for project science. Only recently, 바카라사이트 prime minister announced a new ?2 billion annual fund to invest in science research and development, ano바카라사이트r welcome measure that represents a vote of confidence in academic research.?

This economy thrives as much on collaboration as it does on skills and equipment. Improving infrastructure will allow companies based in 바카라사이트se areas to share best practice and innovate more freely, from academic spin-offs to multinationals.

This 130-mile corridor is set to be a unified area of learning and development research that can lead 바카라사이트 world and create a permanent friend and also rival to Silicon Valley. The line between Oxford and Bicester will open in 바카라사이트 near future, and with new funding now available 바카라사이트 line can continue to Bedford for completion in 바카라사이트 2020s. In 바카라사이트 next two decades we hope to see 바카라사이트 old varsity line connecting Oxford and Cambridge once more, as well as 바카라사이트 softer connections that increased accessibility can bring.

The potential for exchange and discovery between 바카라사이트se knowledge hubs is tangible and exciting, and we await 바카라사이트 railway¡¯s progress with eager expectation.

Angus Horner is a director at?Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.?