Recommendations: 30, 34 (part)

Recommendation 30: We recommend that companies should take a strategic view of their relationship with higher education and apply the same level of planning to it that they give to other aspects of their operations.

5.5 Higher education institutions have a good record in developing their research links with industry although, as the Dearing Committee pointed out, there is scope for much greater use by industry of the research capabilities to be found in higher education. The Government supports the Committee’s recommendation that companies should take a strategic view of their relationship with HE. To that end the Government will continue to encourage the participation by business and HE in Foresight and the dissemination of best practice to companies and HE institutions.

Recommendation 34 (part): We recommend: to the Government that an Industrial Partnership Development Fund is established immediately to attract matching funds from industry, and to contribute to regional and economic development.

5.6 The Government is aware of concerns at the number of different schemes available, such as CASE, LINK and the Teaching Company Scheme, which can support companies working with universities in taking ideas from the research base towards the market place. The Government has noted the Committee’s recommendation for the establishment of an Industrial Partnership Development Fund and is considering, in the context of the Comprehensive Spending Review, how best to ensure that there is a strong partnership between business and HE institutions that also promotes regional economic development.

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