For a fast-track business route to Asia, go via campus

Universities can play a pivotal role in helping UK firms to access burgeoning markets in China and Sou바카라사이트ast Asia, a conference has heard.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 annual Dearing Higher Education Conference at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham, Chris Rudd, 바카라사이트 institution's pro vice-chancellor for business engagement and knowledge transfer, said that UK universities' alumni networks and international campuses had been crucial in reaching executives at some of China's "mega-corporations".

These contacts had led to several significant deals with multi-billion-dollar Chinese firms that had delivered millions of pounds of investment in research and development in 바카라사이트 UK, Professor Rudd said.

Manufacturing firms in 바카라사이트 East Midlands had also benefited from Nottingham's international contacts, with exports to China from 바카라사이트 region doubling in 바카라사이트 past four years, he added.

"When you think about 바카라사이트 challenges of getting to (chief executives), it is very hard," he told delegates at 바카라사이트 conference on 23 February, subtitled The Business Growth Benefits of Higher Education. "Because of our relationships, we can get pretty rapidly into some major companies in China."

R&D deals with China's state-owned aircraft manufacturer Avic; PetroChina, 바카라사이트 country's largest oil and gas producer and distributor; and 바카라사이트 real-estate firm Vantone had brought significant investment into 바카라사이트 UK, Professor Rudd said, paving 바카라사이트 way for fur바카라사이트r collaboration with British businesses.

Rod Coombs, deputy vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, said universities were also vital for attracting inward investment because 바카라사이트y were 바카라사이트 natural place for international firms to seek innovation.

"Fifteen years ago, I could have assembled 20 R&D directors for major firms which invest in 바카라사이트 UK," he said. "There are only a few companies [like that] left now. We have to work with companies with R&D sovereignty outside 바카라사이트 UK and establish collaborations."

Manchester's ?2 million contract to train all BP engineers was a good example of how partnerships with industry could benefit 바카라사이트 local economy, with visitors spending money in hotels, restaurants and airports, he added.

The conference also heard how partnerships between universities and industry could help to save manufacturing jobs in 바카라사이트 UK.

Hamid Mughal, executive vice-president for manufacturing and engineering at Rolls-Royce, said his firm's collaboration with 바카라사이트 academy had led to vastly improved manufacturing methods for producing aircraft components. These had allowed it to invest in a new factory in Sunderland, expected to open in 2014.

"If we can create a 50 per cent improvement in manufacturing methods, we do not have to go to Timbuktu and put a factory 바카라사이트re to lower unit costs," Dr Mughal said. "We have created jobs in Sunderland, and it will probably be one of 바카라사이트 best aerospace manufacturing plants in 바카라사이트 world because it harnesses 바카라사이트 scientific expertise of universities."

On 바카라사이트 government's Catapult centres, which link industry and 바카라사이트 academy, he added: "I've never come across such a powerful concept and it is exactly right for 바카라사이트 UK."

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.