Innovation strategy 'ignores' funding and visas

The strategy, published last week, was broadly welcomed by 바카라사이트 higher education sector, even though most of 바카라사이트 headline new measures - such as an extra ?75 million to help 바카라사이트 Technology Strategy Board support small businesses - do not directly impact on universities.

Among 바카라사이트 measures that do affect universities directly are a ?250,000 annual government investment in "inducement prizes" to solve interdisciplinary challenges, measures to make it easier for consortia to bid for research council funding, and a ?10 million "open data institute" that will teach skills such as text-mining to researchers in companies and in 바카라사이트 academy.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 research councils will invest ?2 million in a Gateway to Research portal that will form "a single point of access to search and analyse information on funded research across 바카라사이트 research councils" to help companies pinpoint where 바카라사이트 research activity relevant to 바카라사이트m is being carried out.

Wendy Piatt, director-general of 바카라사이트 Russell Group of large research-intensive universities, welcomed many of 바카라사이트 measures in 바카라사이트 strategy, but was "disappointed" it did not address concerns about postgraduate funding, or adopt 바카라사이트 Russell Group's proposal for a new bank loan scheme for postgraduates.

She also called for more capital funding to be made available to universities, and for research to be exempted from 바카라사이트 Freedom of Information Act.

David Price, vice-provost for research at University College London, praised 바카라사이트 government for "바카라사이트 stability of its commitment to 바카라사이트 research base" in difficult times.

But he said it was a pity 바카라사이트 strategy's "fine words on 바카라사이트 importance of mobile highly skilled people" had not translated into concessions regarding universities' continuing concerns about 바카라사이트 government's new visa regulations.

"There are still considerable issues with respect to 바카라사이트 length of time talented researchers are able to remain in 바카라사이트 UK or take up employment," he said.

"In an era of constrained funding and difficult decisions, small amendments in immigration regulations may be 바카라사이트 most cost-effective route to maintaining our global research profile."

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.