Ian Robertson Chief Executive Developing Entrepreneurship as a Corporate Growth Strategy Developing People for Growth and Innovation Sri Lanka 5 th March 2010

Vision Context Definitions The Challenges Business and University Entrepreneurship

A Higher Education environment driven by: Entrepreneurial Institutions Entrepreneurial Staff Entrepreneurial Stakeholder Partnerships Entrepreneurial Opportunities Leading to: Entrepreneurial Graduates Entrepreneurial Lives and Careers Entrepreneurial Organisations and Communities The Vision for UK Higher Education

The world is emerging from the largest global financial crises and deepest downturn for almost a century. Imperative to focus on equipping people and business Potential impact of HE on competitiveness and social cohesion Business needs graduates with relevant skills and experience Need to increase HE Industry collaboration Globalisation: uncertainty and complexity; opportunities The development of Entrepreneurial Universities and Graduates Pressures on the public purse; HE income circa £23bn Focus on SMEs and knowledge exploitation Context A necessary condition for an Innovative Economy is Entrepreneurship.

DEFINITIONS

What is the role of the private sector, public sector and universities in an Innovative Economy? Universities producing employable graduates Deeper engagement between business and universities Universities to understand the needs of business Business to understand what universities can do Build relationships not transactions Collaboration to provide tangible benefits – not charity Public sector should grease the engagement Government funding and support for collaboration Challenges Government should provide the policy and regulatory framework and the challenge is then for industry and academia to make things happen.

Facilitated by government with NCGE as a catalyst. In 2009 the government announced the setting up of University Enterprise Networks to focus on key sectors of the economy Tripartite partnerships and funded by the partners Seed long term entrepreneurial relationships Specific outcomes for businesses, universities and the public sector. Tangible economic and social benefit Universities had to change their cost model to engage Key sectors include: Advanced Manufacturing, STEM, Creative Industries, Innovation, Nuclear, Social Enterprise, Low Carbon, Super Fast Broadband, Energy, Smart Planet, Process Engineering. More will follow. Business and University Entrepreneurship UENs is a key UK programme to engage the key players in the economy in an economically productive and socially responsible way.

11 UENs at various stages 59 partners: 27 universities, 18 companies, 14 public bodies Plans jointly developed to : Deliver tangible benefit to companies Support Organisational change in universities Provide all students and graduates with enterprise education and real world experience So far 4 UENs are live and will deliver over 3 years: 5,000 skills assists 500 new collaborations 400 new businesses 286 new innovations Overall impact: Greater business/HE collaboration Increasing economic competitiveness More innovative economy University Enterprise Networks

Thank You