University Innovators showcase collaboration with business

Adrian Bailey MP was speaking at the launch of the University Innovators Guide in Central London on Wednesday 27th February 2013.

The guide is a route map to university-business links, examining the economic potential of the higher education sector, the initiatives where Universities are already delivering on this ambition, and the complementary roles of business, higher education and policy in fulfilling this potential.

Bailey highlighted the vast economic prize on offer from UK universities working more closely with business, as the UK’s 7th largest export industry, contributing £8bn to UK plc.

“Education is a phenomenal success story and if it were any other industry, the public profile and recognition would be huge and there would be an overwhelming desire to reinforce it and maximise the potential”, he said.

Joining delegates nearly a year to the day since his review into university business collaboration was published, Professor Sir Tim Wilson also spoke about the persistent myth that Universities are not responsive to business and economic need.

Despite having what he thought was a comprehensive view of the landscape of university-business collaboration, Wilson said he actually “had no concept of the breadth and depth of existing collaboration between Universities and business.”

“University-business collaboration in this country is truly world class but if we want to become an economic prosperous nation in the future, then we have to continue to grow this collaboration and tie university expertise into the economic future of this country” he said.

Welcoming the University Innovators Guide exhibition, he noted that as a sector, higher education had an obligation to help policy makers realise that Universities have changed. “This sort of event can do nothing but help that sort of interaction”, he said.

The Dods University Innovators Guide is supported by The University of Birmingham, Brunel University, Bournemouth University, The University of Hertfordshireand The University of Northampton.