5 eric thomas bristol session 2

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The Importance of University-Business Collaboration Professor Eric Thomas


Todays Themes • The current environment – innovation as a driver for economic growth • The transition from technology transfer to strategic relationships • The people agenda – tomorrows workforce


The Innovation Imperative • Innovation is the central source of economic growth • It needs an effective system where the actors collaborate directly and indirectly • Universities and companies as national assets • Harnessing new discoveries, developing incremental innovation and supporting clusters • Collaboration is the only way to deliver future prosperity


Technology Transfer to Strategic Partnership • Tech Transfer – Licensing and spinouts • ...still important but ... • ...Collaboration is more important

• Collaboration often exists as scientist to scientist relationships • We are now moving to strategic level relationships • Both Universities and Business need to be more sophisticated in managing such relationships


Tomorrows Workforce • Universities often believe research is key to a relationship with business • Companies believe the future workforce is as important • Our responsibility to our graduates is to: • Ensure they have an awareness of entrepreneurship • Ensure they gain key employability skills • Have internship & workplace opportunities


Todays Themes • The current environment – innovation as a driver for economic growth • The transition from technology transfer to strategic relationships • The people agenda – tomorrows workforce


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