9 December 2003
Universities and colleges offered major funding package to boost links with business
A major boost to increasing links between higher education and business was made this week with the invitation to universities and colleges in England to bid for funding worth £187 million to improve collaborative activities.
Part of the package will give universities the first opportunity to bid for the creation of centres for knowledge exchange throughout the country to broaden the reach of knowledge transfer activities.
The announcement follows hard on the heels of the Lambert Review, which last week proposed a wide range of measures to transform interactions between universities and business.
Sir Howard Newby, Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, said:
"We are delighted to be able to make this announcement in the immediate aftermath of the Lambert Review. It demonstrates the commitment of the Government and HEFCE to make a further major investment which will help build the capacity of universities and colleges to respond more effectively to the needs of business.
"The Lambert Review has helped to raise awareness of the crucial role higher education can play in increasing the country's competitiveness and bringing about economic and social regeneration in the regions. These resources will give universities and colleges the additional flexibility to develop collaborative activities where they can be most effective."
The funding package - known as the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF 2) - has been established though a partnership of the Department of Trade and Industry, (Office of Science and Technology), the Department for Education and Skills and HEFCE. This is being consolidated into a permanent third stream of funding for higher education institutions (HEIs) with the investment rising to a total of £187 million over the period 2004-06.
The maximum award to any university or college for a single non-collaborative bid will be £2.4 million. HEIs who participate in collaborative bids, including centres for knowledge exchange activity, will be able to receive up to £3.25 million. Funding will be available for a wide range of activities from applied research, technology and knowledge transfer to support for community activities working with the public sector and voluntary organisations.
Funding for the 'Knowledge Exchanges', proposed in the Government's White Paper 'The future of Higher Education', has been integrated into the HEIF 2 package. Universities and colleges are invited to bid for up to £500,000 per year to fund a network of around 20 centres for knowledge transfer activity covering areas such as skills development, training, consultancy activities, and engagement with small and medium-sized companies. They will identify best practice and share it across the sector.
Notes
1. 'Higher Education Innovation Fund round 2, Invitation to apply for funds' invites higher education institutions funded by HEFCE to apply for funds that will increase their capability to respond to the needs of business, including companies of all sizes and sectors and a range of bodies within the wider community.
2. Funding for the second round of the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF 2) was announced following the Government's 2003 White Paper, 'The future of higher education'. It will continue and develop the work of the first round of HEIF, which itself built upon the Higher Education Reach-out to Business and the Community initiative (HEROBC).
3. A total of £187 million will be available over the two years 2004-05 and 2005-06. This includes £46 million of additional resources from DTI/OST and DfES, above the levels implied by the combined spending of the two departments on this activity in 2003-04.
4. The closing date for applications for this fund is 25 February 2004; assessments will be completed in May 2004, and funding will begin in August 2004.
5. HEIF 2 will also incorporate future activities based on the current University Challenge (UC) and Science Enterprise Challenge (SEC). The Higher Education Active Community Fund will not be incorporated into HEIF 2 but will be continued in parallel.
6. Stronger partnerships will be encouraged between HEIs in each region and the relevant Regional Development Agency (RDA) and other agencies charged with promoting economic development. RDAs will have an enhanced role in steering the distribution of HEIF 2 funding. Proposals should demonstrate how they fit with RDA priorities, the regional economic strategy and/or the Framework for Regional Employment and Skills Action where relevant.