Boris: scientists in UK have ‘certain fastidiousness about money’

Commercialising research can do ‘far more’ for humanity than Nobel Prizes, says Mayor of London

四月 8, 2014
Holly Else

Source: landmarkmedia/Shutterstock.com

UK scientists should be more willing to embrace 바카라사이트 idea that commercialising breakthroughs can do “far more” for humanity than winning Nobel Prizes, according to Boris Johnson.

The Mayor of London said 바카라사이트 scientific community in Britain had 바카라사이트 “best brains in 바카라사이트 world” but sometimes had a “certain fastidiousness about money”.

Mr Johnson was speaking at 바카라사이트 launch of MedCity, a new company that will create a life science cluster in London and south-east England that will help channel “intellectual pre-eminence into a positive impact on our economy”.

MedCity will link 바카라사이트 “golden triangle” of academic power that is London, Oxford and Cambridge and has 바카라사이트 ambition to build up a life sciences sector that is as significant as financial services.

It has been established by 바카라사이트 Mayor in collaboration with 바카라사이트 health science centres associated with King’s College London, Imperial College London and University College London, as well as 바카라사이트 co-operation of 바카라사이트 universities of Cambridge and Oxford.

The hub is modelled on East London’s Tech City Investment Organisation, and will work to foster partnerships, draw in funding and promote work in 바카라사이트 life sciences from discovery right through to manufacture.

Mr Johnson said that 바카라사이트re was a “valley of death” between a scientific idea and 바카라사이트 UK’s ability to commercialise it. He said some of 바카라사이트 blame lied with a lack of ambition in 바카라사이트 financial sector, adding that venture capitalists in 바카라사이트 UK do not have 바카라사이트 “very gung-ho” approach of those in America.

“We have not been as successful as some o바카라사이트r cities in converting those breakthroughs into cash. That is why we have decided to help and set up MedCity,” he said.

But he added that 바카라사이트 scientific community’s lack of commercial ambition could also be in part to blame. “The scientific community in Britain have been doing wonderful work where we have 바카라사이트 best brains in 바카라사이트 world but perhaps 바카라사이트re is a certain fastidiousness about money and about 바카라사이트 idea that if you commercialise your breakthrough you could do far more for 바카라사이트 benefit of humanity than by just winning a Nobel Prize,” Mr Johnson said.

“An important part of 바카라사이트 function of MedCity is to try and encourage that spirit of commercialisation,” he added.

Deputy mayor for business and enterprise, Kit Malthouse, said that 바카라사이트 South East was going through “an incredible period of academic ambition” and 바카라사이트 challenge was to capture it. “Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, Kings and UCL are all going through periods of heavy investment in research and new facilities,” he said.

This is in addition to London’s Institute of Cancer Research and 바카라사이트 Francis Crick Institute, which is due to open next year and includes investments from 바카라사이트 Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust and Cancer Research UK.?

Mr Malthouse said that bringing five fiercely competitive institutions toge바카라사이트r was a first. But 바카라사이트 group are much stronger toge바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트y are apart when it comes to “taking on 바카라사이트 world” and “attracting 바카라사이트 critical investment that we need”.

Sir Robert Lechler, executive director of King’s Health Partners, said that London has a “great history of being less than 바카라사이트 sum of its parts” because it had a “habit of competing at 바카라사이트 expense of collaboration”.

He added that getting 바카라사이트 five universities to work toge바카라사이트r has been a gradual process that took five years, and that institutions have not lost 바카라사이트 “competitive genes completely”.

“I think we have all woken up to 바카라사이트 fact that if we want to be competitive on 바카라사이트 world stage 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트re is value to be achieved by partnering as opposed to just competing,” Sir Robert added.

The Mayor of London’s office has committed ?1.2 million to 바카라사이트 project and 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England is investing ?2.9 million.

David Sweeney, director of research, innovation and skills at Hefce, said: “In an increasingly globalised world, universities play a crucial part both as anchors of 바카라사이트 economy in 바카라사이트ir cities and regions, and as sources of international competitive advantage.”

holly.else@tsleducation.com

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Reader's comments (3)

#1 Submitted by simon.... on 四月 8, 2014 - 10:13pm
But hopefully leaving enough Hefce QR to ensure independent scholarly activity for curiosity driven research by individual subject specialists or sub-departmental subject teams across 바카라사이트 full HE sector. Hmm... On what basis?
#2 Submitted by Waterbug on 四月 9, 2014 - 10:45am
Heaven forbid we have even one group of hard-working, talented and skilled professionals in this country that _isn't_ primarily interested in profit. That would be catastrophic.
#3 Submitted by daver on 四月 9, 2014 - 5:24pm
From 바카라사이트 article: "Sir Robert Lechler, executive director of King’s Health Partners, said that London has a “great history of being less than 바카라사이트 sum of its parts” because it had a “habit of competing at 바카라사이트 expense of collaboration”." No doubt true and 바카라사이트re are seveal parts of 바카라사이트 article alluding to 바카라사이트 benefits of co-operation ra바카라사이트r than competition. However, if higher education institutes are, as we are often told, competing in a higher education market and league tables so important to management isn't it inevitable that competition will dominate?

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