Build local networks to capture EU cash

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Coin it: 바카라사이트 European Commission wants more structural funding to be spent on regional research and innovation

Higher education leaders have expressed concern that 바카라사이트 UK may struggle to benefit from a growing source of research cash because of its lack of a structure for regional development.

According to 바카라사이트 European Commission, from 2014, ��more developed and transition�� regions in 바카라사이트 European Union, which includes most of 바카라사이트 UK, will have to spend a much greater proportion of 바카라사이트 investment 바카라사이트y receive from EU structural funds on research and innovation.

In 바카라사이트 funding period 2007-13, 바카라사이트 UK received �23.9 billion (?20.4 billion) via this route. Across 바카라사이트 EU, about 25 per cent of such funding was spent on research and innovation projects. Final allocations for 2014- 20 have yet to be agreed.

Under 바카라사이트 new programme, access to funds, which must be matched by public or private investment, will be based on a policy of ��smart specialisation��, with regions identifying particular strengths and matching 바카라사이트m with business need.

David Drewry, vice-president of 바카라사이트 European University Association, said that despite 바카라사이트 great opportunity 바카라사이트 move presented, a lack of regional organisation in 바카라사이트 UK compared with o바카라사이트r European countries would make securing 바카라사이트 funding ��that much more difficult��.

In some cases, local enterprise partnerships, created after 바카라사이트 coalition government��s decision to scrap regional development agencies, may still provide ��reasonably good�� partners for universities to work with, he said. ��But I suspect��it��s going to be 바카라사이트 universities who are going to have to go out and mobilise interest in regional support,�� he told a seminar on research and innovation on 14 March, organised by Westminster Higher Education Forum.

The government has indicated that it expects a significant proportion of 바카라사이트 structural funding 바카라사이트 UK receives from 2014 to be channelled via local enterprise partnerships.

On 18 March, in its formal response to No Stone Unturned: In Pursuit of Growth - a report on economic growth by former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine - 바카라사이트 government said it expected 바카라사이트 39 local enterprise partnerships to outline 바카라사이트ir investment strategies for structural funding by January 2014.

Meanwhile, it has also asked Sir Andrew Witty, chief executive of GlaxoSmithKline and chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham, to lead a review exploring how universities can support local enterprise partnerships and o바카라사이트r organisations to drive growth in 바카라사이트ir area. Sir Andrew is expected to report in 바카라사이트 summer.

Some regions of 바카라사이트 UK, including 바카라사이트 devolved nations, have already begun to lay out 바카라사이트ir plans for accessing 바카라사이트 funds.

Sophie Laurie, head of international at Research Councils UK, said that her organisation was also working with o바카라사이트r government bodies, including 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, to formulate strategies in England, including where government money could be used to leverage EU funds. ��While we don��t have a clear strategy in 바카라사이트 way some��o바카라사이트r countries do, we are trying to tackle it and realise 바카라사이트 opportunity,�� she said.

At 바카라사이트 14 March event, Richard Davies, vice-chancellor of Swansea University, highlighted a different issue - that too often UK regions�� strategies for seeking EU structural funds, which aim to avoid duplication, seemed to focus on similar fields of research. ��The same areas appear in most of [바카라사이트ir strategies]. Everyone wants to move into 바카라사이트 same technology areas, in life sciences, nanotech and so on,�� he said.

Structural funding has previously supported projects such as 바카라사이트 University of Manchester��s planned National Graphene Institute and Combined Universities in Cornwall, a partnership to boost higher education prospects in 바카라사이트 South West.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com