University challenge

In March I presented the Regional Research and Development Awards to small businesses. I was looking forward to hearing stories of successful collaboration between these companies and the universities in the region. However, I learnt that fewer than 25 per cent of the businesses had worked with a university and the majority never even thought that they should.

The advantages to be gained from university/business collaboration are enormous. Universities need to promote themselves more effectively to business audiences. Business can and should benefit from the creativity, new thinking and resources available in universities.

Business should be encouraged by recent changes in universities. A new model of a university is being created — one that helps businesses work more effectively with academics and students. These business-facing universities are focusing on mutual knowledge exchange, not one-way knowledge transfer. They are places where business, academics and students are constantly exchanging ideas. The government is recognising the value this new model of a university brings and is actively supporting its emergence.