Uni awarded £2.2 mil grant for sci innovation

**The University of Warwick has been given £2.2 million for science innovation as part of a government scheme to create business from university research.**

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) awarded an ‘Impact Acceleration Account’ to the University that will enable top scientists and engineers to see their research ideas reach commercial status.

Business secretary Vince Cable announced on November 15 that up to £60 million will be invested in 31 universities across the UK. He stated: “The UK’s scientists are some of the most innovative and creative people in the world, but they need support to take their best ideas through to market.

“This investment I’m announcing today will help our leading universities become centres of innovation and entrepreneurship, generating commercial success to fuel growth.”

The funding will also go to the University’s Global Research Priority programmes (GRP), which seeks answers to world challenges in areas such as energy, innovative manufacturing, technology and health.

Kieran Mitchell, a second year Biomedical Science student said: “I think that it’s great. I have heard it can be really hard to get investment for science projects. I don’t know how much it will help me as funding will most likely go to PhD students, but I think that it’s good the government are spending on education.”

Some students are concerned that the humanities departments do not get enough funding. Second-year English Literature and Creative Writing student, Conor Mahon, commented on the scheme: “The funding itself is good if it is spent wisely on worthy projects such as green technology.

“However, it’s annoying how much money goes to the sciences and not to the arts. Our country’s creative sector is an important part of the economy so why doesn’t the government invest in it more?”

The government scheme is intended to boost the UK economy and University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nigel Thrift, added that universities have a “key role to play in nurturing UK economic growth”.

Second-year Maths and Physics student Guneet Walia said: “I think that business should be the focus of education as it is becoming more and more important.”

Other impact acceleration projects that will be seen across universities in the UK include entrepreneurs in residence and public policy hubs that will seek to enhance the impact university research has on the shaping of public policy and secondments, where scientists and engineers will be funded to gain experience in business environments.