UNIVERSITIES minister David Willetts has officially launched a forum to boost collaboration between industry and university researchers.

The Industry Innovation Forum has been set up by the N8 Research Partnership, a collection of the North’s eight most research-intensive universities. It will try to create stronger links between scientists at these seats of learning and figures from government and R&D-focused global companies. It officially launched yesterday with a dinner at the University of Leeds and will feature input from universities such as Durham and Newcastle.

Minister for universities and science David Willetts said: “This initiative will give companies of all sizes access to the resources and expertise of eight research-intensive universities, driving innovation and providing them with informed solutions to the challenges they face.”

The new forum is being set up in partnership with the Technology Strategy Board and the Higher Education Funding Council for England. Its first meeting today will gather over 100 representatives from industry and universities.

The focus for the initial meeting will be on advanced materials technologies.

Professor Keith Burnett, current chair of the N8 Research Partnership, said: “We have listened to our industry partners and have designed the forum so that businesses can talk to us about their key needs and challenges in a particular area. We can match these with science solutions and possibilities from the research base, across a range of disciplines from eight leading universities.

“The first meeting in Advanced Materials Technologies presents huge opportunities for ideas and applications across a range of sectors in the UK including chemicals, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and aerospace, and we are committed to using the ‘power of 8’ universities working together to stimulate innovation and jobs in the UK.”

www.n8research.org.uk/working-with-business for more details.