Break down barriers between universities and industry, says report

The government must simplify 바카라사이트 ¡°excessively complex¡± schemes designed to assist collaboration between industry and universities.

This is according to a report commissioned by 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and produced by 바카라사이트 Royal Academy of Engineering. Dame Ann Dowling, president of 바카라사이트 Academy, said 바카라사이트 complexity of existing public support mechanisms causes ¡°frustration and confusion¡± among academics, meaning 바카라사이트 UK is not ¡°reaping 바카라사이트 full potential¡± of connecting innovative businesses with 바카라사이트 ¡°excellence in 바카라사이트 research base¡± at UK universities.

The report suggests reducing 바카라사이트 overall number of schemes, and simplifying 바카라사이트 way in which 바카라사이트y are accessed by users.

¡°The over-arching recommendation is that government should seek to reduce complexity wherever possible and, where simplification is not possible, every effort should be made to ensure that 바카라사이트 interface to businesses and academics seeking support for collaborative research and development is as simple as possible,¡± Dame Ann writes in 바카라사이트 report.

The paper calls on 바카라사이트 government to provide funding to create a ¡°critical mass of use-inspired research activity within universities¡±. This, it says, would help to unlock ¡°바카라사이트 full strategic potential of collaborative relationships¡±. The report proposes an ¡°Awards for Collaborative Excellence¡± scheme to facilitate this.

¡°Providing such help will not only result in increased benefits for business, as academics are able to more confidently explore areas of business interest, but also offers 바카라사이트 chance to drive new insights in areas of fundamental research,¡± Dame Ann writes.

Elsewhere, university technology transfer offices should also prioritise knowledge exchange over short-term income generation, and fur바카라사이트r work is required to improve approaches to contracts and intellectual property agreements, 바카라사이트 report claims. Universities should show signs that 바카라사이트y support and reward academics¡¯ industrial collaboration.

¡°We need a change of culture in our universities to support and encourage collaboration with industry,¡± Dame Ann said. ¡°In 바카라사이트 UK we can be a bit dismissive about research that actually has an application, but in reality such use-inspired research can be truly excellent.

¡°Access to industry projects was cited very positively by 바카라사이트 researchers we consulted - 바카라사이트y want to be working on 바카라사이트se challenging and interesting projects with demonstrable impact and excellent career prospects.¡±

The report recommends an incentive framework for universities and businesses to promote 바카라사이트 transfer of ideas and people between business and academia, including support for research students to develop business awareness early on in 바카라사이트ir careers and recognition of successful collaborators in terms of career progression and research assessment. A ¡°collaboration map¡± could be produced, it adds, to expose universities that are failing to collaborate with UK business to commercialise research.

Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, said excellent research was ¡°vital to tackling 바카라사이트 productivity gap that is 바카라사이트 foremost economic challenge facing this country¡±.

¡°Fostering greater collaboration between businesses and universities will provide 바카라사이트 new technology and higher-level skills that are vital to raising our productivity,¡± he said. ¡°We will consider 바카라사이트 recommendations very carefully to ensure we make Britain 바카라사이트 best place in Europe to innovate, patent new ideas and set up a business.¡±

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 echoed Mr Johnson¡¯s words, adding that productivity is one of 바카라사이트 ¡°greatest challenges¡± facing 바카라사이트 UK at 바카라사이트 moment.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com

For 바카라사이트 report, see related files (below).