Member Article

Newcastle Science City welcomes government research pledge

Britain has the potential to become a leading location for research into physical and life sciences, but only if it receives the correct support, according to the Universities and Science Minister.

David Willetts is to set out plans detailing how Britain’s universities, science facilities and researchers present the UK with an opportunity to profit from the high-tech industries of the future.

In a speech at Policy Exchange, David Willets said: “If properly nurtured they can ensure that Britain will be up there as a leading location for research in the physical and life sciences and beyond.

“Britain can be the preferred location for companies’ R&D. We can have world-class industries using cutting-edge technologies. We can have a prosperous future with a role in the world.”

While the UK is already home to make of the world’s best universities, Mr Willetts is proposing to establish a new type of university focusing specifically on science and technology for postgraduate students, whilst attracting more external investment in higher education over the next 3 years.

He also hopes to create a new Catapult centre in satellite applications to provide businesses with access to orbit test facilities to develop new technologies, as well as Leadership Councils in E-infrastructure and in Synthetic Biology.

This news has been welcomed by Paul Walker, chair of Newcastle Science City who commented:

“It is heartening to see the Government once again highlighting the strength and potential of Britain’s science and technology sector.

“While we broadly welcome David Willetts’ ambitions to ensure Britain remains a leading location for research in areas such as life sciences and to establish Britain as the preferred location for companies’ R&D, we await more details on the minister’s specific plans for a high-tech enterprise strategy.

“In the meantime Newcastle’s own science community is working closely together to stimulate long term economic growth by capitalising on the phenomenal scientific research that is taking place in our universities and identifying commercial opportunities relating to this.

Despite the fact that there will be no government funding for these new projects, Mr Willetts has pledged that no funding will be diverted from undergraduate programmes. However, he believes that it will give the UK the opportunity to identify any obstacles than need to be removed to encourage growth.

He continued: “It is an opportunity to seize new freedoms which we proposed in our White Paper last year, and we have already had alot of interest and are keen to move it to the next level.

“A major city might wish to offer a site as Mayor Bloomberg has just done so successfully with his competition for a new graduate school in New York.

“We will be discussing with the interested organisations how best to carry this initiative forward.

It is also hoped that the changes will present universities with the opportunity to link with new global partners, who could provide the necessary investment into science and technology. As well as this, Mr Willetts is welcoming proposals from Local Economic Partnerships, Universities and Businesses to put forward proposals.

Mr Willetts concluded: “This Coalition, faced with the crucial challenge of sustaining growth after the deepest recession since the War, has a strategy for high tech enterprise.

“We can be proud of it because it is coherent, serious and rests on a commitment to the future of our country and its economic base.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .