HEFCE Report 00/52

Higher Education Reach-out to Business and the Community Fund
Second round funding allocations

Executive summary

Purpose

1. This document lists the funding allocated in the second round of awards under the Higher Education Reach-out to Business and the Community (HEROBC) Fund.

Action required

2. No action is required.

Background

3. The fund is a third stream of support for higher education, complementing our existing grants for teaching and research, to reward and encourage HEIs to enhance their interaction with business. It provides a platform of core funding to help HEIs put into practice organisational and structural arrangements for developing and implementing their strategic aims in this area, in order to contribute to economic growth and competitiveness.

4. We established the HEROBC Fund in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department for Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (DHFETE) in Northern Ireland, and the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE).

5. HEFCE 99/16 set out proposals to introduce a funding stream from 1999-2000, to be allocated in response to applications from HEIs in England and Northern Ireland. Following a positive response from this consultation process, we issued the first invitation to apply for funding in June 1999 (HEFCE 99/40), as a result of which 87 awards were made.

6. The second invitation to apply for funding was issued in February 2000 and included a list of the first round awards (HEFCE 00/05).

7. The membership of the Advisory Panel which assessed the bids is shown in Annex A.

Funding

8. We received 64 second round applications from 62 HEIs, including 20 applications from consortia of HEIs. Funding totalling £22 million was awarded to 50 applicants, as listed in Annex B.

9. Activities being supported by the awards listed in Annex B encompass a wide range of capability and structural developments in support of knowledge transfer, new collaborations between HEIs, and enhanced response to the needs of business and the wider community. They share the common goal of leading to wealth creation, either directly in the short to medium term, or in the longer term by developing robust and effective relationships and processes.

10. The Government's Spending Review in 2000, and the science and innovation White Paper 'Excellence and Opportunity' have confirmed the establishment of this third stream and have indicated new funding for 2001-02 and thereafter. We shall consult the sector regarding the next phase, in due course.

Annexes

• Annex A - Membership of Advisory Panel
• Annex B - Total HEROBC funding allocated in second round (£s)