RDAs and universities should "drive economic growth" -
Mandelson
07 January 2010
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has today charged RDAs and
universities to play an increased role in driving economic growth
in their areas.
Innovation is the key to staying competitive, says Lord
Mandelson, with RDAs and universities forming a critical
partnership in making business success out of first class research
and ideas.
Launching the government's new strategy for economic growth
today (Thursday), Lord Mandelson has asked South West RDA Chairman
Sir Harry Studholme and the region's Vice-Chancellors to report
back to him by mid-March "on how their universities, supported by
RDAs, can drive economic growth in their area."
"Over recent years we have built up the basic skeleton of an
industrial innovation system in the UK. We have the rapidly growing
outreach of our universities into business, RDA investment in
innovation centres, the setting up and expansion of the Technology
Strategy Board, and the recent decisions to establish industrial
centres of excellence in a range of technologies," Lord Mandelson
told the Work Foundation yesterday in advance of the strategy
launch.
South West RDA and the region's universities have worked
together to develop and deliver many key initiatives over the past
decade.
These have included the RDA investment of over £30 million in
university-linked Innovation Centres across the region, including
in Bristol, Exeter and Cornwall. The £300 million S-Park
development will rival the biggest science parks in the UK founded
on the expertise in key areas of technology of Bristol, Bath and
UWE.
The South West's confirmation in 2009 as the UK's first low
carbon economic area features Plymouth University as a major
partner alongside the RDA, and builds upon the ground-breaking
renewable energy research initiatives being undertaken by the RDA
and the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth.
South West RDA has been a major supporter and investor in the
Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative in which three
universities have combined forces to greatly increase the level of
high quality higher education creating a significant economic
impact on the area.
Further investments are planned, focused on technologies which
are important for future economic growth.
Only recently, in the autumn of 2009, Lord Mandelson confirmed
that the UK's first National Composites Centre will be based in the
South West, based at Bristol University with £4 million of RDA
launch investment.
Sir Harry Studholme said: "Our students will drive the future of
our economy and the new ideas incubated in universities already
shape our business opportunities.
"Our universities are key to the sustainable economic future of
our region. The South West RDA, as an economic agency, recognizes
this and has worked closely with universities in initiatives such
as innovation centres, science parks and Great Western Research,
strengthening the relationship between business and
universities.
"We are delighted to have been given this opportunity to build
on what has been achieved so we can use our most capable minds to
ensure our long term prosperity."
Ends
Notes to editors
The South West RDA leads the development of a sustainable
economy, investing to unlock the region's business potential. It is
helping companies respond to the economic crisis and charts a
course for recovery. The RDA is developing or expanding initiatives
which include: establishing a Business Loan Fund; coordinating the
response to large companies in difficulty; preparing for economic
recovery. More information can be found at http://www.southwestrda.org.uk/
Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SouthWestRDA