Meeting to stress benefits of collaboration

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jun 17, 2005

Yorkshire and Humber academics and business people will come together to share ideas at the Yorkshire Science and Technology Network's next event on 23rd June 2005.

Yorkshire and Humber companies need to capitalise on the world-class research taking place in the region's universities or risk losing the innovation race.

The message comes ahead of the Yorkshire Science and Technology Network's (YSTN) latest event on 23rd June 2005, where academics and business people come together to share ideas.

Professor Colin Pillinger, who led the mission to land the Beagle probe on Mars, will be the latest high-profile guest speaker.

He will explain how, without collaboration between industry and academia, the Beagle project would not have happened.

Being innovative is seen as a key to fighting off competition from low-cost economies such as those in China and India.

According to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Alan Johnson: "If we are going to have successful businesses, we need world-class science and innovation".

YSTN was launched earlier this year by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward to improve links between academics and the business world.

Businesses in the Yorkshire and Humber region spend about GBP 357 million a year on research and development - just 2.7% of the entire UK spend.

In contrast, the region's eight universities spend almost GBP 340 million on research - 7.7% of the UK share.

Dr Ceri Williams, Science Exploitation manager at Yorkshire Forward, said: "Being able to innovate and exploit the latest technology is massively important - not only for business, but for the region as a whole".

"This is a race we need to win".

"But the figures show we aren't using enough of the knowledge that is right here on our doorsteps".

"We need to help businesses and universities to work together for mutual benefit".

Robert Seldon, Technology Partner for key YSTN supporter Deloitte, said: "We know that economies which grow and sustain the fastest growth are those which develop the best research and then apply it to industry".

"YSTN is helping to develop an essential positive interface between industry and academia".

Brendan Catlow, Managing Director of world-leading speciality chemicals firm James Robinson who will be speaking alongside Prof Pillinger, said: "Our collaboration with the University of Leeds over several years has led to substantial business growth in the ophthalmics market and generated exciting potential in new applications areas".

"We have first hand experience of the value of working in partnership with local universities, and are fully supportive of what the YSTN is doing".

Fellow speaker Dr John Baruch, head of Cybernetics at the University of Bradford, added: "Science and business often do the same thing, if only they knew it".

"Academics must innovate at the leading edge of technology for world leading research their field, business must do the same to produce world beating products".

John Foster, Managing Director of leading Barnsley-based commercial baker Fosters, met academics from Sheffield Hallam University at the last YSTN event.

As a result, Fosters is carrying out more work with researchers there to look at ways of optimising production processes.

Foster added: "At one time I would have said universities were irrelevant to business".

"But now, after meeting with academics, I realise their knowledge is massively important and can save us money and improve our products".

"We need to look at the very latest innovation in science and technology going on at our universities if we are to stay ahead".