www.n8research.org.uk anthony j ryan obe pro vice chancellor faculty of science

www.n8research.org.uk

Anthony J Ryan OBEPro Vice ChancellorFaculty of Science

N8 Research Partnership

Eight most research-intensive universities in the North

Durham ManchesterLancaster NewcastleLeeds SheffieldLiverpool York

The Power of 8: mobilise research excellence & critical mass- 8,200 academic staff - 90% of N8 research is rated as of international quality- 125 “top ten rankings” in RAE 2008- 45,000 postgraduate students


The Power of 8


• Combining complementary strengths from across 8 leading universities

• Established with Northern Way monies focusing on areas of relevance to industry in North of England

• Specific research programmes in:• Phase One:

Molecular Engineering and Regenerative Medicine• Phase Two:

ParasitologyDemographic Change Transformational Infrastructure Just Cities; Creative and Cultural

Key operating principles


1) Focus: where by working together can achieve a greater output than single institutional effort

2) Criteria: common elements of successful collaborations• Capability across the N8 universities• Opportunity to work with industry or research users• Willingness among the community to work together

3) Not an exclusive club –work with others on capability basis (e.g. Sheffield Hallam, Bradford and Hull core partners in METRC)

Progress on Phase 1


Tangible - 60 jobs, £35m research income; 240 business assets- Proof of concept technology projects with significant commercial value – Deloitte valuation of METRC pipeline - £50m+

Intangible- Industry led collaborative networks and critical mass- Molecular Engineering and Regenerative Medicine- Reputation with industry and TSB for collaborative research- Asset of trust and established network of PVC-Rs- foundation to try new things

Phase 2


• Renewed commitment to working together: Collaboration, Excellence, Growth

• Key priorities- Emerging social sciences programme- building on demographic change pilot- academic and translational outputs- N8 Industry Innovation Forum: working with Technology Strategy Board and global R&D firms- Joint working on maximising economic growth

through use of capital assets

Why collaborate?


EXEMPLAR –REGIONAL INTELLIGENCEDEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE - £100k study

- 4 themed reports + overarching synthesis report - Whitehall seminar with BIS and DWP on older entrepreneurs- Special edition of Applied Spatial Analysis and Policy- Executive summaries for practitioners and policy makers- Launch event attended by David Willetts-Individual seminars with LEPs – bespoke presentations on

implications for their localities- Follow-up research themes, great potential for science

The power of 2!Started by “2 Jags” Prescott &lauded by “2 brains” Willets


Why? Collaboration

METRC: Helping Industry to Innovate

Phase 2 Launch February 2012

A case study

METRC

• Introduction to METRC

• Universities involved

• METRC Phase 1: 2008-11


What METRC does

METRC applies nanotechnology, science and engineering research from universities in the north of England to help industry to:

•develop innovative new products and processes•reduce time to market•find experts to solve problems•access new technologies

How METRC does this

• Fund collaborative research and innovation projects – initially £2.2 M from RDAs

• Provide a free brokerage service

• Help companies and academics to realise the commercial potential of their research

Summary





Universities involved

Summary





METRC 2008-11: Facts and Figures

• Funded 85 research projects

• Helped 90 companies to innovate

• Created 20.5 jobs

• Conducted by

• Analysis of 21 largest projects

Economic Impact Assessment

• Conducted by

• Analysis of 21 largest projects

• Could be much bigger!

Economic Impact Assessment

Value to UK economy could be as high as

Summary





METRC Phase 2: 2012-14

1. Fund collaborative research and innovation projects

2. Provide a free brokerage service

3. Help companies and academics to realise the commercial potential of their research

METRC Innovation Awards

• Funding available to help companies to innovate

• University – Industry collaborative research and innovation projects


• Nanotechnology, science and engineering

• Small feasibility project to test out a novel idea

• Small proof of principle study


• Any company can apply; preference given to SMEs

• METRC can help companies to find suitable academics and vice-versa

• Or companies and academics can apply together directly

Eligible universities

Funding

• Each METRC Innovation Award is worth £5K

• This must be matched by at least £5K cash from the company

• Money is awarded to the academic to carry out the project

Example 1

Company A and Prof X want to investigate raw materials from sustainable sources

1 x METRC Innovation

Award £5K funding +

£5K cash match from

company =£10K to

spend on project

Funding

• In some cases it will be possible to apply for more than one METRC Innovation Award at once

• BUT the company must match in cash the total value of the Awards applied for

Example 2

Company B and Prof Y want to investigate suitable materials for sensing applications

Company B and Prof Y only need to fill in one application form and not 4

4 x METRC Innovation

Awards £20K

funding +£20K cash

match from company

=£40K to

spend on project

Funding Assessment Criteria

• UK based company

• Strong commercial potential

• Project benefits the company

• Long-term plans for partnership

Current status

• Call 1 opened 6 February 2012• Apply using an online form on metrc.co.uk• Both company & academic filled in form• Call closed on 6 April 2012• Contracts currently being issued

• Call 2 will open later in 2012 and there will be further calls in 2013 and 2014

Summary





Delivering

Innovation

www.n8research.org.uk anthony j ryan obe pro vice chancellor faculty of science

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