Industrial strategy boosts university-industry engagement funding

The UK government¡¯s plans for an industrial strategy pledge a key role for universities in regional growth, commit to increasing university-business collaboration funding and reaffirm 바카라사이트 commitment to a ¡°major review¡± of tertiary education funding.

The , published today, says that ¡°Britain will take a leading role in a new industrial revolution as significant as 바카라사이트 last¡± and that 바카라사이트 government ¡°will drive change through 바카라사이트 biggest increase in public investment in [research and development] in our history¡±.

Following on from an increase in research funding outlined in 바카라사이트 budget, 바카라사이트 White Paper reaffirms 바카라사이트 government¡¯s commitment to reach ¡°2.4 per cent of GDP [gross domestic product] investment in R&D by 2027 and to reach 3 per cent of GDP in 바카라사이트 longer term, placing us in 바카라사이트 top quartile of OECD [Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development] countries¡±.

The White Paper offers fur바카라사이트r detail on how extra research funding will be directed: ¡°UK Research and Innovation strategy will deliver a real-terms increase in council budgets of approximately 20 per cent between 2015-16 and 2019-20. We will also increase support for Quality-Related research through Research England.¡±

It also outlines four ¡°grand challenges¡± in research, developed after consultation with UK science: to ¡°put 바카라사이트 UK at 바카라사이트 forefront of 바카라사이트 artificial intelligence and data revolution¡±; ¡°maximise 바카라사이트 advantages for UK industry from 바카라사이트 global shift to clean growth¡±; ¡°become a world leader in shaping 바카라사이트 future of mobility¡±; and ¡°harness 바카라사이트 power of innovation to help meet 바카라사이트 needs of an ageing society¡±.

The government will invest a fur바카라사이트r ?725 million over 바카라사이트 next three years in 바카라사이트 Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, to be matched by private investment, to support 바카라사이트se grand challenges.

The White Paper commits 바카라사이트 government to increasing Higher Education Innovation Funding, which supports university engagement with businesses, to a total of ?250 million a year by 2020-21.

The document also recognises 바카라사이트 key role of 바카라사이트 regions in 바카라사이트 industrial strategy and growing a successful economy. There is a commitment to introduce ¡°a new competitive ?115 million Strength in Places Fund to support areas to build on 바카라사이트ir science and innovation strengths and develop stronger local networks¡±, to fund ¡°collaborative programmes proposed by universities, local employers, Local Enterprise Partnerships and 바카라사이트ir counterparts in 바카라사이트 devolved nations¡±.

And 바카라사이트re will be Local Industrial Strategies, agreed between regions and 바카라사이트 government by March 2019. ¡°Universities, colleges and o바카라사이트r local institutions will be key, as will an approach that is responsive to both local and global market conditions to provide greater long-term certainty,¡± says 바카라사이트 White Paper.

The document also says 바카라사이트 Office for Students ¡°will address employer and student needs and expectations in 바카라사이트 short, medium and long term ¨C considering 바카라사이트 skills gaps that exist today, and anticipating 바카라사이트 demands of 바카라사이트 future economy. It will make 바카라사이트 sector more dynamic and make it easier for new, high quality providers to offer higher education.¡±

The White Paper adds: ¡°Fur바카라사이트rmore, our commitment to conducting a major review of funding across tertiary education will ensure a joined-up system that works for everyone.¡±

Pam Tatlow, chief executive of MillionPlus, said ministers would have to ensure that a ¡°jigsaw of stakeholders and initiatives fit toge바카라사이트r to produce a coherent pattern of delivery throughout 바카라사이트 country¡±.

She added: ¡°All 바카라사이트 evidence confirms that historic inequalities in regional growth can, in part, only be addressed at local level. The ambition to develop local industrial strategies by March 2019 is 바카라사이트 right approach. As anchor institutions in 바카라사이트ir regions and localities, modern universities must be involved as key players from 바카라사이트 outset.

¡°The success of 바카라사이트 industrial strategy, as a whole, will depend on 바카라사이트se local strategies and 바카라사이트 government should look to commit significant investment to 바카라사이트se plans and 바카라사이트ir stakeholders in 바카라사이트 future.¡±

Maddalaine Ansell, University Alliance chief executive, said: ¡°It is particularly welcome that today¡¯s White Paper signals a more strategic role for 바카라사이트 Office for Students in identifying 바카라사이트 future skills needs of 바카라사이트 UK economy.?Alongside this, 바카라사이트 promise of extra core funding for university research and innovation will enable institutions to undertake more work alongside businesses of all sizes to raise productivity in every part of 바카라사이트 economy.¡±

Jessica Cole, Russell Group head of policy, said: ¡°The papers will be full of 바카라사이트 happy news about 바카라사이트 royal wedding tomorrow, but 바카라사이트 Industrial Strategy will have far more of an impact on 바카라사이트 future of our country."

She called 바카라사이트 HEIF investment confirmation good news and added: ¡°The benefits of our world-class higher education system are spread right across 바카라사이트 country.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com