This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Minister attends US University Roundtable
18/11/2002
American University Prinicipals and Senior Academics
were told today that Scotland was focused on delivering an
economy built on foundations of innovation and the
commercialisation of research.
Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Iain Gray
was speaking at the first official engagement of his visit
to Boston, New York and Washington.
The 'University Roundtable' was held in Boston and was
attended by senior figures from, amongst others, Harvard
and MIT.
The Minister used the occasion to encourage further
links between American and Scottish Universities, to
outline the Executive's focus on Science and to hear
directly about the American experience of getting ideas
from University labs into the marketplace.
Mr Gray said:
"In Scotland we have a long history of excellence in
research and innovation. We are rightly proud of our
scientists of the past and can readily recall many of the
Scottish inventions that have changed the world. What we
need to do now is create a Scotland where we are every bit
as proud of the achievements of our Scientists of the
present.
"That is why I am delighted to be here at this event
speaking to such a prestigious and eminent group of
academics and University leaders. In Scotland we are
tremendously proud of our Universities - with our oldest
one founded almost 600 years ago.
"However, like you, we have recognised that there is a
need to change - that we have to ensure that our
Universities are at the heart of our efforts to stimulate
long term, sustainable economic growth.
"It is for this reason that the Scottish Executive has
made investing in Science, Higher and Further Education a
central element of our economic strategy.
"We made the decision right from the onset of our
devolved Government that it was vital that we link post
school education with economic development. By doing this
we are ensuring that investing in the skills of our people
matches the efforts that we are undertaking to grow the
economy.
The Minister continued:
"I am absolutely delighted to be here and am looking
forward to hearing from you about the substantial work -
and equally substantial success - that you have had in
getting your ideas out of your labs and into the
marketplace.
"But like the best collaborations I would hope that
there can be a two-way flow of ideas and information. In
Scotland we have developed a number of measures which
address issues of common concern. Issues such as addressing
the gap in the commercialisation process between scientific
discovery and proving the commercial value of the
concept.
"Our 'Proof of Concept Fund' is now in its 4
th year and shows great promise in bridging this
gap. Proof of Concept is a model which we greatly value and
one which I believe may be worth replicating in the
States.
"Our Universities already have a long tradition of
working together on research projects. I am sure that
following on from this meeting today, we can find further
common ground to work on in terms of
commercialisation."
Following on from the 'University Roundtable' the
Minister visited the National Foundation for Teaching
Entrepreneurship. This body is one of the main vehicles for
delivering entrepreneurial education to underprivileged
teenagers in the US.
The Minister used this visit to talk about work that the
Executive is doing to promote enterprise education right
across the spectrum - from primary education through to
colleges and Universities.
The Minister also pointed out that the Executive was
committed to delivering a world leading programme of
enterprise education - demonstrated that the Scottish
Budget had earmarked 40 million pounds for this area.
Total annual funding for the FE sector will exceed £500m
by 2005-06, an increase of 20% in cash terms on current
spending levels with real terms increases in 2004-05 and
2005-06 of 6% and 5.5% respectively.
Within this, extra investment of £17m per year from
2004-05 is earmarked to boost capital expenditure.
Total annual funding for the HE sector will exceed £800m
by 2005-06, over £100m more than 2002-03 and an increase of
nearly 15% in cash terms. This represents real term year on
year increases of 1.3%, 3.5% and 1.9%.
More details about the National Foundation for Teaching
Entrepreneurship can be found at
www.nfte.com
The Proof of Concept Fund supports leading-edge
technologies emerging from Scotland's universities,
research institutes and NHS Trusts. It helps researchers to
export their early-stage ideas and inventions from the lab
to the global marketplace. This £33m fund is now in its 4
th year and is already delivering spin-out
companies and commercialisation results. Full details of
Proof of Concept Fund including case studies and details on
the projects funded can be found at
www.scottish-enterprise.com/businessstart/academics/pocf/
The Minister's trip takes him from Boston on to New
York and Washington. Further details of his programme can
be accessed at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/pages/news/extras/00011600.aspx