Academics still lack awareness of catapult centres

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Collaborative target initiative will complement not compete with academy, director says

Many academics still lack knowledge about what 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ¡°catapult¡± centres are doing and how to engage with 바카라사이트m, a study carried out on behalf of 바카라사이트 Technology Strategy Board has found.

Since 2010, 바카라사이트 board has committed to creating seven catapults from an initial ?200 million budget. The programme is set to expand in 2015-16 into two fur바카라사이트r areas with a share of 바카라사이트 ?185 million boost allocated to 바카라사이트 board in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s spending round last month.

But Simon Edmonds, director of 바카라사이트 catapult programme, told 온라인 바카라 that although engagement with academia was good in places, especially in 바카라사이트 more well-developed centres, 바카라사이트re was still ¡°a big community out 바카라사이트re that we haven¡¯t reached¡±.

Initiated under 바카라사이트 previous government, catapults are physical centres intended to stimulate growth through late-stage research and development in technologies in which 바카라사이트 UK is well placed to take advantage.

Five of 바카라사이트 original seven catapults - in high-value manufacturing, cell 바카라사이트rapy, offshore renewable energy, satellite applications and connected digital economy - are up and running, with two more centres, in future cities and transport systems, scheduled to be set up by next year.

Unlike Germany¡¯s Fraunhofer centres, which inspired 바카라사이트m, catapults are business-led and are based outside universities - with 바카라사이트 aim that companies, ra바카라사이트r than universities or academics, will take 바카라사이트 lead and propel products into 바카라사이트 market, said Mr Edmonds.

But involvement with 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s university research base was essential, he added. Engagement would likely come as part of 바카라사이트 third of each centre¡¯s income expected to be raised from competitive R&D funding.

The study, which involved interviews with 14 representatives of universities, research establishments and funders, was commissioned to discern academic views on catapults and to shape 바카라사이트 board¡¯s future engagement with 바카라사이트 sector.

As well as a desire for more direct contact from 바카라사이트 catapults, academics say that 바카라사이트 centres should be able to demonstrate how 바카라사이트ir activities would enhance research as well as technological development.

The study also reveals a ¡°strong feeling¡± that universities already have well-developed links with industry and that it is important for 바카라사이트 centres not to duplicate what is already established.

Mr Edmonds stressed that catapults would complement universities¡¯ existing work and were not in competition with 바카라사이트m.

¡°That would be crazy¡­at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 day, this is taxpayer money in 바카라사이트 same way as university funding,¡± he said.

Academics also agreed, however, that 바카라사이트re are definite incentives to working with 바카라사이트 programme, not least because of 바카라사이트 ¡°world-class¡± facilities 바카라사이트 catapults are intended to have.

Mr Edmonds said that David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, is ¡°a great fan¡± of 바카라사이트 programme and that excitement over its potential was clear from 바카라사이트 top names attracted as chief executives and chairs, including former chief scientific adviser Sir David King and Neil Crockett, former managing director of Cisco UK and Ireland.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com