Technology Innovation Centres

Written evidence submitted by University Alliance (TIC 39)

Science and Technology Committee Inquiry into the suitability of the

Fraunhofer model for Technology Innovation Centres

Alliance universities: innovation and knowledge exchange built on genuine partnership with business and the professions

1. University Alliance represents 22 major, business focussed universities at the heart of the sector. The approach in these universities to business engagement, civic regeneration and local communities means that they work with partners across their region, the UK and internationally, to ensure that the benefits of higher education and more specifically their entrepreneurial approach have a direct economic impact - for example the automotive industry in Manchester, the Aeronautical industry in Bristol, the High-tech industries around Hertfordshire and the Maritime industry in Plymouth and Portsmouth.

2. As University Alliance has consistently argued, universities are not just part of a growth strategy, they are central to it, driving growth and innovation in new sectors and markets. The quality and scale of higher education (delivering highly skilled graduates), science and research is crucial to determining the future pattern of economic growth in any innovation-driven economy, locally, regionally and nationally. [1]

3. This ethos is central to the focus within Alliance universities and it is based on this approach that they are well placed to deliver on the Government’s priorities for sustainable growth:

· to leverage private sector investment and encourage businesses to start, grow and thrive

· to assimilate and exploit leading-edge research

· to foster the exchange of new knowledge between universities and business

The Fraunhofer model and approach to the Technology Innovation Centres

4. There has been increasing interest in the German Fraunhofer model over recent years as a way of maximising the exploitation of the UK’s research and innovation. We are fully supportive of the need to ensure that we have the best environment to maximise the impact of our research endeavours but as with any imported model, the key to success will be to develop an approach that builds on the existing strengths and structures already in place across the UK.

5. The Fraunhofer model incorporates a network of institutes spread across the country, each focussing on different fields of applied science. This model has already influenced the proposed development of Technology Innovation Centres (TICs) in the UK following the publication of Dr Hermann Hauser’s report to government last year. [2] Hauser’s report set out the following parameters for the development of the TICs:

· The mission of TICs is to help bridge the gap between research findings and outputs, and their development into commercial propositions.

· The programme of activity in each TIC should be overseen by a business led steering group, comprised of business and academic experts in the technology.

· The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) should establish a new UK Technology and Innovation Centres Management Board to oversee the network of national TICs, with representation from industry, the research base and wider Government. This group should report on performance and prioritise investments/monitor strategy.

6. In addition, the Hauser report suggested that TICs should only be invested in when they met the following criteria:

· the potential global markets are predicted to be worth billions of pounds per annum

· the UK has truly world-leading research and potential business capability and absorptive capacity to make use of increased investment

· the UK has the ability to capture a significant share of high value activity

· TICs can enable the UK to attract and anchor the knowledge intensive activities of globally mobile companies

7. University Alliance is supportive of the leading role that the Technology Strategy Board has been instructed to take in relation to the TICs. We would hope that this means a joined up policy approach will be taken given the remit of the TSB in other areas such as Knowledge Transfer Networks, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and collaborative research and development.

8. We would also hope that the approach that is eventually developed builds on the existing and significant expertise that has been developed across the sector in relation to commercialisation and university – business collaboration.

Developing a model based on knowledge exchange and existing approaches to working with business

"A business-facing university has a revolving door with business - not an interface or a portal but a true interaction. Employers know that the university will deliver - whether it be high-level skills, applied research, knowledge exchange or process improvement, short courses for their staff or expert consultancy services."

Professor Tim Wilson, Vice Chancellor, University of Hertfordshire

9. The focus in Alliance universities is on knowledge exchange rather than knowledge transfer – wealth creation and business engagement are not an add-on once the research has taken place. Rather, they are intricately part of the university’s fabric. Innovation and knowledge creation is formed on the basis of this mutual partnership and is therefore directly linked to economic need. In addition:

· These are universities with 4* and 3* departments that have a major impact largely based on their strong links with industry.

· They typically have research strengths in innovation, typically in areas of importance to the new economy.

· There is a focus on near-market solutions with a large proportion of highly rated STEM departments.

· They are focussed and strategic in the investment of resource in their research strengths. [3]

Figure 1: Knowledge transfer vs. knowledge exchange

10. Alliance universities have found that the most successful approach is one where business links and engagement are embedded across a range of university activities. These universities have developed strong partnerships with both national and international business to the extent that there is active businesses engagement in curriculum design, collaboration on specific programmes to embed graduate skills.

11. In relation to research and innovation we would highlight the following examples with relevance for the development of TICs. In each case the link with the university is an important feature because of the way innovation and knowledge is formed as a result of relationships formed across the institution through the knowledge exchange approach.

University of Hertfordshire – Bio-park

12. BioPark is a thriving scientific community of biopharmaceutical, medical technology, diagnostics and the biomedical businesses together with specialist service providers, forming an important component of the South Hertfordshire BioCluster. BioPark ensures that strong links are developed between regional universities, research institutes and the private sector and, as one of a network of Regional Enterprise Hubs, assists in developing high-level skills to support the knowledge economy.

13. The University of Hertfordshire led the development of Bio-park, which opened in February 2006. Prior to the development of the park, Roche Products had announced its intention to pull out of the region and all stakeholders were keen to ensure that these valuable facilities were safeguarded for future use.

14. 93% of the space has now been let with plans underway for further expansion and investment by the university along with its partners equalling £2.2 million. Not only is BioPark demonstrative of the leading role the university is playing in terms of the regions economic development, BioPark is run on a commercial basis for the university and therefore effectively brings private revenue in.

University of Plymouth – Leading Marine Institute

15. Research Fortnight’s RAE 2008 Power Table showed that the University of Plymouth was ranked at number 50, with the highest increase in ranking (15 places) from 2001 to 2008. The University's largest Unit of Assessment for the 2008 RAE, with 36.5 staff submitted, was Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences (UOA17), which includes the marine physical sciences and chemistry. In this unit 95% of the research was judged to be at least internationally recognised, with 50% being internationally excellent or world leading.

16. It is on the basis of this expertise that one of the largest Marine Institutes in Europe has been established. The University is working in partnership to invest £25 million in the Plymouth Science and Innovation Programme (PSIP) to build a new world-class marine facility which will house state-of-the-art research facilities including new wave tank testing equipment that will be unique to the UK . PSIP builds on expertise in the City and provides a solid innovation infrastructure which expects to create 500 jobs and 30 new businesses in the next five years. PSIP is expected to drive up the city's Gross Value Added, an indicator of economic performance, by £130million over the next 10 years.

University of Bradford – Research and Knowledge Transfer Centres

17. The University of Bradford has made a strategic decision to invest more than £4 million in developing its key areas of research and knowledge transfer strength. Following an extensive review of its research base, external business markets and funding opportunities the university has developed its strategy to focus on 10 Research and Knowledge Transfer Centres including: Micro and Nano Technologies, Advanced Materials Engineering, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Sustainable Living, Skin Sciences, Visual Computing, Automotive Engineering and Medical Infection.

18. All centres are delivering high quality research, an academic drive and a commitment to business markets. The centres are all driving innovation and working towards business solutions - strengthening partnerships with business and industry such as Jaguar cars, Reckitt Benckiser, Smith and Nephew and public sector organisations such as NHS trusts and the Department of Health.

Bournemouth University – National Centre for Computer Animation

19. Bournemouth University ’s National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA) is working with the University of Bath to create the first Industrial Doctoral Centre for the Computer Animation industry. This pioneering project has been awarded nearly £6 million by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

20. With an annual turnover of approx £7 billion the computer animation industry is of increasing importance to the UK economy. The Centre aims to improve knowledge transfer between academia and industry and provide training in the technical, artistic, research and management skills needed by the next generation of industry leaders.

21. For the past two years, 3D World magazine has rated the NCCA as the best place to study computer animation in the UK . The publication also rated the Centre as number eight in the world. Other recent grant successes include £290,000 over three years from the EPSRC to improve the realism of animated virtual humans. These characters will be used by partners Lancaster, UCL and the Metropolitan Police to study psychological responses to street violence.

University of the West of England - Institute of Biosensing Technology

22. The Institute of Biosensing Technology is the first of its type using Bio-sensing technology in non-invasive detection of disease, healthcare (being able to detect metal fatigue in hip replacements before they hurt), security and many other applications. This attracts inward investment from overseas.

23. IBST was formalised in 2008 and has already secured major research contracts such as a £1 million project in collaboration with DePuy (a Johnson+Johnson company) and Gwent Electronic Materials, funded by the Technology Strategy Board. The project aims to develop a new rapid, point-of-care diagnostic system for the measurement of metal ions after joint replacement. This will inform clinical decision making around the need for pre-emptive revision in case of high levels of metal wear.

24. IBST has also become an affiliate member of the Sensors & Instrumentation Knowledge Transfer Network (SIKTN), a government funded initiative to develop a joined-up approach to the bio-sensing and instrumentation community. The Institute is already working with the SIKTN on a project to develop a National Directory of UK companies working in bio-sensing.

University Alliance

02 December 2010