UCL Vice-Provost (Research) responds to minister’s Our Hi-Tech Future speech

Professor David Price, UCL Vice-Provost (Research), comments on the recent speech, Our Hi-Tech Future, by the Minister of State for Universities &. the Rt Hon David Willetts:

"This speech set out a number of important ideas and aspirations for the UK research base, including a welcome ambition for the UK to be the best place in the world to do science and research. It is also exciting to see that the Government is open to innovative new initiatives to enhance the UK’s research base and to develop further partnerships between universities and industry.

"Leading research-intensive universities such as UCL can provide leadership here: I’d suggest that the ideas outlined in the speech for new campuses and partnerships provide opportunities to foster collaboration between universities and industry to establish research ’hubs’. I believe that it is collaborations involving leading institutions that will prove most attractive to business investment. 

Professor David Price

"I’d like to see UCL develop a number of partnerships with different universities and with industry to develop a graduate school hub that would focus on postgraduate training and research and draw on existing infrastructure and talent in partner institutions.

"While public funding for research remains vital and must be sustained, I recognise the importance of diversifying income schemes for universities and research. I would urge the Government to continue to work to provide the right environment to encourage investment in research and postgraduate education, including delivering joined-up thinking on policy that affects higher education and research.

"It’s also important that any new initiatives should enhance the UK’s research base and our leading universities by building on and strengthening existing activity, not on duplicating provision or replacing public funding streams. We should be focusing on expanding opportunities for gaining public and other sources of funding (particularly greater opportunities for co-funding with industry)."

Links:

Our Hi-Tech Future
UCL Research Strategy