Funding pressures build business links

Key British scientists were invited to a 'power' breakfast last month to discuss with no less than five ministers their views on how science policy can be developed. And in the chancellor's later annual budget statement, the government underlined its wish to see investment in science as a key to future prosperity. But future money will not all be coming from the government: there are growing efforts to get universities and businesses to develop partnerships and the latest recent survey suggests that the links are developing substantially. The report concludes that universities are generating more wealth and creating more jobs than ever — reaffirming many of the findings of the Lambert report, commissioned by Gordon Brown, the chancellor, to investigate university–business links. During 2001–2002, the turnover of UK spin-off companies inside and outside higher education institute ownership increased from £212 million to £289 million. The survey found that universities disclosed 16 per cent more inventions over the year, while income from consultancy increased by one fifth to more than £122 million. Far more academics were engaged in consultancy work, and numbers of staff employed in business and community roles increased sharply. Some 85 per cent of institutions offered an inquiry service for small-to medium-sized businesses. Few countries have put as much pressure on their universities to attract business funding as the UK but this is now having a growing effect on their operations. Nigel Williams reports. Looking out: British university researchers are developing growing business links as the government keeps up pressure on the need to develop such relationships.