The House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Committee has announced a new inquiry into Business-University collaboration. On 28 January 2014, the Committee held a one-off evidence session on Fraunhofer UK as an example of business-university collaboration. The Committee questioned Professor Martin Dawson, Head of the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics (and Research Director of the Institute of Photonics at the University of Strathclyde) and Professor Graham Wren, Chair of Business Engagement, University of Strathclyde, where the first UK centre was established in 2012.
The Committee has now called for written submissions of evidence in answer to thirteen questions which range from identifying the key strengths and weaknesses of the UK’s innovation system in relation to business-university collaboration through what impact we think Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), the new University Enterprise Zones and Catapult Centres will have, through to the future of the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs).
Given the relative strength and importance of university-industry collaboration in engineering, we are keen to ensure that our views are heard. Please answer as many or as few of these as you feel equipped or informed to do so. The Engineering Professors’ Council will be making a formal written submission on behalf of its Members. The closing date for submission of your views is Wednesday 16th April, 2014.
