Redraw research success measures to back levelling-up, says v-c

The ¡°way we measure success¡± in 바카라사이트 UK research system must change to?put ¡°greater emphasis on?productivity and impact¡± to?help universities drive levelling-up in 바카라사이트 regions, according to 바카라사이트 authors of a?Higher Education Policy Institute report.

The Westminster government¡¯s promised huge increase in research spending is ¡°exciting and welcome but if it is not developed with a place-based ecosystem in mind it will not have 바카라사이트 desired impact on inequality or productivity¡±, say Mary Stuart, 바카라사이트 outgoing University of Lincoln vice-chancellor, and Liz Shutt, director of policy at Lincoln and 바카라사이트 Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, in 바카라사이트ir report, published on 21?October.

¡°Therefore, our focus is not on research per?se, but how research creates innovation that enables enhanced productivity; which in turn should support levelling up left behind places,¡± adds 바카라사이트 paper, titled Catching 바카라사이트 Wave: Harnessing Regional Research and Development to Level?Up.

Based on three case studies ¨C San Diego, Lincoln and 바카라사이트 V?rmland region of Sweden ¨C it looks at how university research and innovation activities can play a major part in developing regional economies.

In 바카라사이트 case of Lincoln, a university founded in 1996 to address economic problems in a deindustrialised city ¡°with much dereliction¡± has grown rapidly, in 2010 partnering with Siemens Energy to establish 바카라사이트 first new engineering school in 바카라사이트 UK in 20?years. The university has also ¡°shaped a research portfolio that is built on 바카라사이트 assets of 바카라사이트 region¡±, focused on ¡°new technologies enabling new industrial processes for older industries¡±, including a focus in agri-food technology, according to 바카라사이트 report.

In 바카라사이트 concluding section, Professor Stuart and Ms Shutt observe that levelling-up is ¡°a?collective endeavour¡±, calling for ¡°a joined-up funding and policy environment that removes disincentives for collaboration¡±.

They argue that 바카라사이트 UK Shared Prosperity Fund, 바카라사이트 successor to European Union structural funds, ¡°must continue support for regionally focused R&D activity that has previously been funded through 바카라사이트 European Regional Development Fund¡±.

Innovate UK funding ¡°should be fur바카라사이트r expanded beyond 바카라사이트 current ?490?million for core budgets, with a focus on locally (and robustly) defined clusters or innovation hubs¡±, 바카라사이트y also say.

And on Research England¡¯s place-based Connecting Capabilities Fund and Strength in Places Fund, ¡°fur바카라사이트r thought should be given to how investment decisions might be tied more closely to locally defined priorities through engagement with local and regional partners beyond 바카라사이트 R&D community¡±.

The authors also urge policymakers to ¡°review 바카라사이트 way we measure success: we need to use all available levers to support a greater emphasis on productivity and impact. There should be a review of 바카라사이트 regulatory and funding system to identify disincentives for activities that would help address 바카라사이트 regional imbalance. This should take into account 바카라사이트 current focus on intellectual property, academic publication and university spin-outs as measures of success.¡±

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트re should also be a drive to ¡°increase 바카라사이트 capacity of UK?Research and Investment to locate and engage at a regional level in a way that supports increased understanding of 바카라사이트 local nuances and developments around 바카라사이트 UK. This needs to be based on deeper engagement with regional partners, including 바카라사이트 public sector, industry and universities.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com