CAMBRIDGE, England, March 31, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- PraxisUnico, the UK's leading research commercialisation organisation, invites comment on a statement from the organisation's Chairman, Professor David Secher, on Government policy on knowledge transfer. Lord Mandelson has accepted the recommendations of the recent Hauser Report. This report proposes development of a network of technology and innovation centres that will help deliver the industries and jobs of the future.
In his statement Professor Secher assesses the significance of the Hauser Report to knowledge transfer and research commercialisation, It is clear that Lord Mandelson, who commissioned the report, favours the German system of Fraunhofer Institutes. Previous attempts to copy that system in the UK (e.g. Faraday Centres) have failed and Hauser is careful to explain that what works in Germany may not be appropriate here. He notes that in the UK since 2008 the Regional Development Agencies and devolved governments have invested more than GBP150m in over 50 Technology Innovation Centres. Whilst some of these have already shown signs of success and sustainability (e.g. advanced manufacturing in Sheffield), many have been constrained by insufficient funding, duplication and a too narrow geographical focus. They have also been constrained by the dimensions of the existing UK industrial base.
Secher concludes, Is there a danger that the biggest breakthroughs might fall through such a network? When César Milstein invented monoclonal antibodies or Fred Sanger DNA sequencing, these would not have met Hauser's criteria. The recognition of the importance of serendipity and the ability flexibly to set up (and close down!) centres, as science develops, must be taken into account. It is the ability to create demand which marks some of the greatest developments, not simply being a narrow servant of the market. Most importantly, the investment needs to add to university knowledge transfer and improve the demand from British industry for new research (as identified so clearly by Richard Lambert in his 2003 report). To build a knowledge economy we need, not a reinforcement of old industries, but an industrial base that is aligned with our research potential; that can build on the success of university knowledge transfer; and that fosters a demand creation agenda.
Notes to Editors
1. Professor Secher's full statement is at http://www.praxisunico.org.uk/news
2. Hermann Hauser's report is at: http://berr.gov.uk/assets/biscore/innovation/docs/10-843-role-of-technol... nnovation-centres-hauser-review.pdf
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3. The Hauser Report proposes a national network of sector-based centres to close the gap between universities and industry though a 'translational infrastructure' to provide a business-focused capacity and capability that bridges research and technology commercialisation.
4. Secher also proposes that the centres should be called Hawking Centres or Hauser Centres, rather than Clark Maxwell Centres, as suggested by Hauser.
About PraxisUnico
PraxisUnico is a not-for-profit educational organisation set up to support innovation and commercialisation of public sector and charity research for social and economic impact. PraxisUnico encourages innovation and acts as a voice for the research commercialisation profession, facilitating the interaction between the public sector research base, business and government. PraxisUnico provides a forum for best practice exchange, underpinned by first-class training and development programmes.
For further information: PraxisUnico Lee Willmott Communications Officer Tel: +44-(0)1223-422085 lee.willmott@praxisunico.org.uk
SOURCE: PraxisUnico
CONTACT: For further information: PraxisUnico, Lee Willmott,Communications Officer, Tel: +44-(0)1223-422085, lee.willmott@praxisunico.org.uk
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