How Universities could transform the UK into an R&D superpower
Back in the early months of 2020, before the pandemic salted the earth for millions of us, the government announced an ambitious planto "level up" the UK's research and development position. This was reinforced by a road map that agreed to double R&D spending to £22 billion by 2025.
Now, with innovation needed more than ever before, the government must double down on its promises. But it's going to be up to the UK's Universities to put in the groundwork and this can only be done if they're able to commercialise their R&D projects and engage with the private sector.
Of course, there are already many leading lights showing the way. UCL has already strongly reaffirmed its position as one of the world's top research institutes and LSE is officially the top ranked university for social science research. LSE is also the joint second ranking university in the UK overall, when considering research outputs, research impact and research environment.
Looking beyond the golden triangle
All of the top five R&D hubs in the UK are based in the "golden triangle" of London, Oxford and Cambridge, with Oxford alone seeing more than £1.2bn of investment in biomedical research over the last five years.
For the Universities based outside of this triangle, while there are certainly many superstars (such as the University of Birmingham, which is a pioneer in fuel cell research), there are many more midlands-based and northern Universities that need to step up their game and could be doing so with the government's help.
For these establishments, this is going to mean two things - a complete transformation of their R&D strategies and greater investment in equipment and talent.
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Changing the old guard
Historically speaking, the UK has spent a lot less than its peers on R&D and has a pretty weak record when it comes to commercialising it. Not only that, but the vast majority of the investment is skewed heavily towards London, Oxford and Cambridge, with other Universities left to essentially pick up the scraps. If real substantive improvement is going to occur then this needs to change.
Partnerships
One way to make the most of increased investment is to forge strategic partnerships with industry and the private sector. This means being more open and collaborative with private sector partners and being more open to creating a dialogue with regulators, investors and supply chains. A holistic approach, if you will.
Identifying strengths
Universities must identify and align with the sectors and areas in which they hold a distinct advantage over other R&D institutions. They are working with disciplinary expertise and have access to some of the brightest and hungriest young minds in the country. University R&D departments are also, by their nature, user-focused establishments and this means they are uniquely well-placed when it comes to identifying where they need to deliver value.
Research and impact
Research is always going to be more successful when it's more agile and open to change when new information is discovered. So, more funding shouldn't mean simply piling more resources into big projects but creating more projects with shorter timescales - lots of sprints rather than a few big marathons.
Regional contributions
It's worth noting that a sizable proportion of the investment made into local Universities will directly benefit the region. It achieves this by attracting jobs and foreign investment, enhancing the innovative capabilities of local firms and leveraging additional, matched investment from business to a specific region focused on a particular area of innovation. In short, well-funded University R&D departments can catalyse economic growth in the surrounding area and this should be capitalised upon when all local Unis are applying for funding.
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All the ideas and all the gear
Right now, it's all little more than a lot of rhetoric on behalf of the government. What's really needed now is for Universities to be told how much will be made available to them and when. Only then can they start to prepare and invest.
And, of course, all the R&D investment in the world is not even going to touch the sides if the hardware and software are not up to the task. Thankfully, whereas R&D once required the kind of computing power you'd think was beyond the means of anyone but NASA, the latest generation of commercial GPUs and CPUs are more than capable of keeping up with the big boys.
Case studies
Novatech has been specialising in putting together workstations for Universities to assist with research and development for over 35 years now, and curates the entire process - from initial consultation and design, to assembly, distribution, sales, support and repair.
We also have a great deal of experience dealing with Universities. For example, we designed a bespoke hardware solution for the University of Edinburgh, when they required a uniquely powerful build to help the Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology department analyse data and publish research papers.
More recently, we also partnered with the University of Lincoln to ensure all of the systems designed for their School of Computer Science students would not only look the part but be designed to the latest spec, to grab the attention of both current and prospective SoCS students.
The Novatech difference
We supply a vast range of hardware, from laptops, desktops and Google Chrome devices, to more powerful workstations and servers that can be used for everything from data analytics and storage to AI and machine learning.
If universities can make the most of the equipment available to them, the increase in spending promised by the government could help catapult the UK to the top of the scientific food chain. At least, in theory.
Whether or not the government follows through on their promises remains to be seen but the UK has already proven, in some regard, that it's capable of great scientific victory with the vaccine rollout. Let's hope they manage to pull it out of the bag again.
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Getting funded - a 5 step checklist
While the government has yet to outline specific guidelines for fund application, there are a number of things universities should be doing to give themselves the best chance, particularly if they're based outside of the golden triangle.
1. Cut through the red tape
Cutting through the regulatory red tape could prove especially difficult if University R&D departments don't have existing partnerships with industry. Unfortunately, a laborious grant process currently exists for academic collaboration with private industry. So, it's best to get a head start on it now before the grants start being handed out.
2. Acquire the latest tech
Ensure that your department is outfitted with the latest technology and IT infrastructure that is capable of leading the way in the coming months. This could be seen as putting the cart before the horse but you are much more likely to get additional funding if you've already proven the capabilities of your department.
3. Lobby for change
Rather than just accepting the needlessly complicated process, R&D departments should start lobbying for reform on the grant-giving process. And remember, many voices in unison are always going to be stronger. While £22 billion was pledged to science expenditure in 2020, this was before the pandemic struck. R&D departments also need to start badgering their local MPs and finding out when they will know how much is going to be available to them.
4. Know your worth
UK Research and Innovation - the government's flagship funding agency - spends £120 per capita in London compared to just £53 per capita in Wales. This kind of disparity can not be allowed to continue. Universities based outside of the southeast need to start campaigning for equal access to funds and start doing so now.
5. Look for global talent
While the UK leaving the EU has made immigration from the continent more difficult as a whole, the government has introduced new arrangements specifically for EU scientists, with no limit on the number of visas that can be issued. Universities should be capitalising on this by reaching out for the best talent from across not only Europe but the rest of the world.
Be the change you want to see in the world
Ultimately, the UK's science superpower ambitions are only going to be realised with the right talent and the right infrastructure. Talent is the hardest part as it will mean attracting lots of very talented people to dedicate their careers to research and innovation in the UK. A more positive, inclusive and respectful culture that supports more productive and sustainable working practices is only part of the battle but it's a big part of it.
Universities need to plan, attract and prepare, and provide competitive offers for researchers, as well as the ability for those researchers to move flexibly between different roles or sectors. One way to attract the best talent is to ensure your department is packed with the latest and greatest equipment and we can certainly help in that regard.
The rest, however, is up to you. What we do know, however, is that the UK's remarkable research and innovation history should be more than enough reason for universities across the country to have faith in the future. And that would be true, 22 billion or not.
For more information on how Novatech can help your University's R&D department with its hardware solution, contact us today.