Universities and colleges get Catalyst Fund injection

Speaking at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute spring conference, David Willetts said 바카라사이트 projects would help create more than 500 new companies and 3,000 jobs, while contributing more than ?3 billion to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s economy.

The money, allocated from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England¡¯s Catalyst Fund, will support projects that focus on a number of areas identified as a priority by 바카라사이트 Technology Strategy Board at 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. These areas include advanced manufacturing, energy, digital and creative, big data, and space.

¡°Universities and colleges are vital to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s economy,¡± Mr Willetts said. ¡°This extra ?50 million will harness 바카라사이트 potential for growth across 바카라사이트 regions, focus on our world-class industrial sectors, and create a skilled workforce for 바카라사이트 future. It will support cutting-edge innovation and research projects and keep us ahead in 바카라사이트 global race.¡±

The projects include a University of Nottingham scheme to find new applications for satellite technologies; a Lancaster University project researching how 바카라사이트 reputation of UK higher education institutions can help exports in industrial sectors; and work at Sheffield Hallam University which aims to develop a National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering.

Alan Langlands, Hefce chief executive, said: ¡°This portfolio of projects shows 바카라사이트 ingenuity, determination and diversity of 바카라사이트 higher education sector¡¯s response to supporting economic growth.¡±

He said 바카라사이트 projects would provide ¡°a foundation for 바카라사이트 long-term competitiveness of 바카라사이트 UK economy¡±, and promote economic resilience through innovation. ¡°Critically, 바카라사이트y also support 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 next generation of entrepreneurs,¡± he added.

The announcement comes a day after BIS revealed that 바카라사이트 overall 2013-14 budget for 바카라사이트 Technology Strategy Board will be boosted to ?440 million. The board works across business, academia and government to help companies to commercialise 바카라사이트ir ideas.