This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scots universities 'punch above weight'
07/03/2003
A survey published today shows that Scottish
universities generate 14 per cent of all UK spin-out
companies, grant 15 per cent of licences, and file 11 per
cent of patents.
Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Minister Iain Gray
welcomed the figures as an indication that Scotland's
Universities, in a country with only 9 per cent of the UK
population, continue to punch above their weight when it
comes to producing new ideas and products.
But he added that there is still much room for
improvement, which the Executive is actively working
on.
The figures are contained in
Higher Education - Business Interaction Survey -
Academic Year 2000/01 - an annual measure of the
collaboration between academia and industry.
Further findings are:
- Scotland's higher education institutions have been
and are generally more active than the rest of the UK
regarding commercialisation of their intellectual
property
- Scottish institutions are more likely to offer
science park accommodation, over half compared to one
third of UK institutions offering this assistance. On
campus incubators were also used more frequently in
Scotland.
- There has been a general increase in reported
commercialisation activity across the UK compared to
the previous year, some of it due to more complete data
recording.
- Over two thirds of Scottish universities feel that
commercialisation is one of their three key
contributions to economic development - twice the
percentage of the UK.
- 302 inventions were disclosed to commercialisation
officers, 14 per cent of the UK total, slightly less
than last year.
Mr Gray said:
"Getting our ideas out of our labs, into our businesses
and out into the marketplace is a vital part of creating a
Smart, Successful Scotland. I am therefore encouraged to
see that Scottish universities continue to punch above
their weight when it comes to making their discoveries
accessible to industry.
"However, I am clear that much more needs to be done and
the Executive is far from complacent. While Scotland has
been leading in this field during the past few years there
are signs from the survey that the other part of the UK may
now be catching up.
"In order to remain competitive, the Scottish Higher
Education Funding Council intends to increase significantly
its funding of knowledge transfer activity in higher
education institutions over the next three years.
"I am confident that these measures, and the
determination of our businesses and universities, will
advance science and skills and make a real difference to
the Scottish economy.
The Minister continued:
"We need to make sure that in Scotland we are as proud
of our scientists and innovators of the future as we are of
those of the past. That is why we have been - and will
continue to support science and innovation.
"The Executive supports commercialisation and better
working between enterprises and the universities though a
range of measures - including our Proof of Concept
Fund.
"Scottish Enterprise also announced recently the
creation of three Intermediary Technology Institutes to
encourage and support pre-competitive research for key
markets. They should further encourage co-operation between
academia and industry."
The report by the Executive based is on data from a UK
wide survey undertaken jointly by the higher education
funding councils, Department of Trade and Industry, the
National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Executive.
The above information is based on the latest figures
available. Because of increases in response rate
comparisons with last year's UK results have to be treated
with some caution. Occasionally figures may need to be
revised due to the receipt of late returns or changes in
survey methodology.
Scottish Executive statisticians compiled the report on
the basis of an extract of the returns from the 18 Scottish
institutions contacted.
For further information contact:
Gerhard Mors
Scottish Executive
Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department
Analytical Services Division
Meridian Court
5 Cadogan Street
Glasgow G2 6AT
Tel: 0141 242 5488
Fax: 0141 242 5579
E-mail:
mailto:industrystatistics@scotland.gsi.gov.uk