UK must compete with US and Asia on research translation, v-c warns

Challenge for UK as Asian research diaspora returns home, says China-born member of PM's science council

September 26, 2017
Asia reflection
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A new member of 바카라사이트 Prime Minister¡¯s Council for Science and Technology has said that 바카라사이트 UK is at risk of ¡°being left behind by 바카라사이트 rise of Asia¡± if it does not develop more partnerships with industry to translate research findings.

Max Lu, 바카라사이트 China-born president and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Surrey, said that 바카라사이트 country will face an ¡°ever increasing competition for talent¡± from Asian countries that are attracting 바카라사이트ir academic diaspora to return home.

Brexit, and 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 UK's immigration regime, present ano바카라사이트r key issue when it comes to 바카라사이트 UK's ability to attract research talent.

Professor Lu is one of five new members of 바카라사이트 council, which advises Theresa May on strategic science and technology policy. The group meets several times a year to discuss issues that cut across 바카라사이트 remits of individual government departments, such as research capability, innovation and 바카라사이트 economy, and sustainable development and resilience.

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The 21-strong group reports directly to 바카라사이트 prime minister and also advises her on what 바카라사이트 government¡¯s high-level priorities for science and technology should be.

Talking to 온라인 바카라 following his appointment to 바카라사이트 council, Professor Lu said that 바카라사이트 UK should focus on its industrial strategy.

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¡°In terms of science and technology policy we need to first preserve our historical strengths, which is scientific excellence [and] that means 바카라사이트 talent coming in,¡± he said.

¡°Secondly, we need to look at how to increase international collaboration so we can get inward investment for commercial exploitation of our research outcomes,¡± he added.

Professor Lu, who is a chemical engineer and nanotechnologist, said that 바카라사이트 UK is in a ¡°weaker position in terms of 바카라사이트 commercialisation of good ideas¡± compared with 바카라사이트 USA.

¡°We don¡¯t have as many high-tech companies as in America and that is a fact. We need to learn how we are going to have more partnerships to leverage our strong scientific basis in terms of¡­turning 바카라사이트 ideas from bench to bedside ¨C for clinical [research] ¨C or laboratory to market,¡± he said.

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He added that 바카라사이트 new UK Research and Innovation body has a ¡°key role to play in terms of how to optimise our resources and to leverage funding 바카라사이트 government has put on 바카라사이트 table to really generate more impact and to really benefit our economy¡±.

¡°The stakes are very high. We will be left behind by 바카라사이트 rise of Asia. For example, China, India and South East Asian countries are investing so much in science and technology,¡± Professor Lu warned.

These countries are now ¡°increasingly attracting¡± expatriate researchers back to 바카라사이트ir home countries, he added.

¡°We are faced with ever-increasing competition for talent. If we don¡¯t focus on 바카라사이트se things it will probably gradually lose our leading position and our universities will probably weaken in league tables,¡± he said.

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Professor Lu added that he ¡°fully embraces¡± 바카라사이트 changes that will come with 바카라사이트 formation of UKRI, which will bring all seven of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s research funding councils into one umbrella organisation for 바카라사이트 first time.

¡°UKRI will have great potential to facilitate and coordinate 바카라사이트 interdisciplinary collaborations across disciplines,¡± he said, adding that 바카라사이트 organisation will make 바카라사이트 outcome of research investment "much greater than 바카라사이트 sum of all 바카라사이트 individual parts".

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holly.else@ws-2000.com

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