Cardiff University

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The Role of Universities in the Innovation Process
Sir Brian SmithInternational Ambassador and
Former Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff University


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Roles of Universities
Teaching --- the transmission to the next
generation Research --- the discovery of new know
ledge Third Mission --- contributing to social a
nd economic development
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The third mission
To meet the needs of business and the community,
contributing to economic and social development
both regionally and nationally
Third Mission activities are concerned with the
generation, use, application and exploitation of
knowledge and other university capabilities
outside the academic environment
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Universities contribute by---
Providing high grade skills Encouraging entrepren
eurial attitudes Initiating innovation by exploit
ing intellectual property

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Innovation
Definition used by the UK department of Trade and
Industry

the successful exploitation of new ideas
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Innovation
It has been said that Higher Educations most
important role is to

inject the adrenalin of innovation into the
bloodstream of the economy

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Development of Intellectual Property

Licensing to business Setting up spin-out compani
es

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Government Initiatives
Identification of key areas for research
investment Support for the recruitment of top res
earchers and postgraduate students
Provision of seed funding for knowledge transfer
The release of intellectual property to
universities
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Isis Innovation
A company owned by the University of Oxford
To help those researchers who wish to
commercialise the results of their research
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Isis Innovation
Licensing of intellectual property
Formation of new companies Offering consulting an
d service contracts
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Isis Innovation
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Isis Innovation
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Science Research at Oxford
2,500 researchers in Science and Medicine
2,000 doctoral students Top scores in Research As
sessment Exercise Annual research income 220 mi
llion (400 million)
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Cardiff University Innovation Network
Provides an informal, flexible forum where
like-minded SMEs can meet and discuss potential
collaboration
Is guided by business people
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Cardiff University Innovation Network
Evening meetings on topics of interest to
business Freephone and e-mail problem solving ser
vice Technology fair Technology Marketplace
Annual innovation awards competition for local
companies
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Spin-out Companies
UK - 158 companies one for every 15m,
(28m) of research expenditure and 2.7 per
million of population USA - 494 companies one
for every 44m, (80m) of research expenditure
and 1.7 per million of population

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Curiosity Driven Research
Conclusion drawn from Excellence and
Opportunitya science policy for the 21st century
DTI 2000 - The importance of excellent, curios
ity-driven research cannot be emphasised too
strongly. It is part of our culture but also of
vital importance to industry.
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Major innovations flow from breakthroughs made by
curiosity-driven research. It is no accident
that universities which are famous for producing
spin-off companies, and for stimulating growth
in their local economies, are also famous for the
fundamental research they do. An excellent
science base educates young scientists and
engineers in the latest techniques that they can
carry into industry.