Policy

We know the UK has been punching above its weight and now ranks 5th in the Global Innovation rankings. The proportion of R&D funding contributed by industry in the UK is 15% higher than in the US.  Over £40bn has been invested in UK universities over the past ten years by businesses and other organisations to find solutions to their business problems. Last year there were over 350,000 contracts between universities and businesses. And the spin-out race between the UK and US is neck and neck with UK investments in spin-outs beginning to edge ahead.

The Collaboration Progress Monitor, NCUB's annual tracking of long-term trends in UK university-business collaboration, shows the number of interactions increased across the board.  But a reduction in business investment in R&D for a third continuous year represents a challenge for increasing research and development funding to 2.4% of GDP. However, the UK’s continued success in attracting foreign investment is a positive reflection on the global strength of our research base.

Joe Marshall, CEO at NCUB, explains: 

The title of my talk - ‘Time to Shine? KE professionals and the KEF’ - was a little tongue in cheek and maybe also a little provocative, but deliberately so because PraxisAuril members are not often visible when it comes to discussions about KE. And part of my job is to promote the expertise and experience that resides in the member network and can be used to really understand the dynamics of KE, particularly in the university-business context. The KEF will require us to examine the ways we facilitate KE and to think about innovative support modes and models.