UK universities rank highly in scientific research and development, but success in R&D relies on international collaboration to solve the world鈥檚 big problems
UK prime minister Boris Johnson鈥檚 desire is to restore the country鈥檚 status as a 鈥渟cience superpower鈥, with academic research and development front and centre. But does the current state of R&D in UK universities match this status, and what is the role of global collaboration? Attendees at a round-table discussion, held by 糖心Vlog in partnership with Huawei, reflected on scientific achievement as part of a 鈥済lobal village鈥.聽
鈥淲e鈥檇 be naive to think we were totally self-sufficient in any one part of science anymore,鈥 said Marion Campbell, vice-principal of research at the University of Aberdeen. 鈥淭he purpose of universities now is to address those large, intractable global problems, and the world itself is more interconnected.鈥
Simon Hettrick, deputy director of the Software Sustainability Institute at the University of Southampton, commented that software developers had long taken the view that collaboration could be 鈥渄one from anywhere鈥. 鈥淥nce you鈥檝e opened that global view, there鈥檚 no going back because you鈥檙e building on layers of work,鈥 he said.
With Overseas Development Assistance funding for universities significantly reduced, big business can provide a conduit for global research partnerships. Louise Bates, head of strategic partnerships at the University of Manchester, described how her institution operates an account management model so that corporate partners have a single point of contact with the university. 鈥淭his pre-empts some of the research focuses they might want to explore and helps us get under the skin of what they need,鈥 Bates said.
Michael Hill-King, collaboration director at Huawei UK, was mindful of the time and resources required to build up partnerships at this level. 鈥淪ome of the smaller universities just don鈥檛 have the critical mass to justify having a team of specialists to understand the new governance requirements,鈥 he explained. Luke Georghiou, deputy president and deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Manchester, noted that, even if a team is in place, there is a 鈥渘eed to get everyone engaged, to manage their own relationships鈥 when forming these vital knowledge exchanges.聽
External scepticism that research will be used in ways that might hamper national security can stand in the way of open data and evidence-sharing. 鈥淎ny ground-breaking research comes through collaboration, and any barriers that are put in place may mean you don鈥檛 build it,鈥 said Muhammad Imran, professor of communication systems and dean of UESTC at the University of Glasgow. 鈥淭his means individual academics can be scared to initiate risky collaborations, despite the fact there are philanthropic aspects to opening up your research.鈥
But Dave Robertson, head of the College of Science and Engineering and professor of applied logic at the University of Edinburgh, argued that partnerships were crucial. 鈥淚ndustry is the vehicle for getting these scientific results out into the world,鈥 he said. 鈥淐ycles are so tight now between a discovery and the ability to get it out into the world in a meaningful way, you need to move fast.鈥
Finally, exchanges move more than one way. Robertson described a 鈥渂enevolent cycle鈥 where international research talent 鈥渃omes into a university, goes out into the world and then comes back. The loop closes and that鈥檚 the synergy we鈥檙e looking for,鈥 he added.聽
The panel:
- Louise Bates, head of strategic partnerships, University of Manchester
- Phil Baty, chief knowledge officer, 糖心Vlog (chair)
- Marion Campbell, vice-principal of research, University of Aberdeen
- Luke Georghiou, deputy president and deputy vice-chancellor, University of Manchester
- Simon Hettrick, deputy director of the Software Sustainability Institute, University of Southampton
- Michael Hill-King, collaboration director, Huawei UK
- Muhammad Imran, professor of communication systems and dean of UESTC at the University of Glasgow
- Matthew Jackson, head of academic relations, Huawei UK
- Dave Robertson, head of the College of Science and Engineering and professor of applied logic, University of Edinburgh聽聽
Watch the聽round table on demand above or on the聽.
聽about Huawei and higher education.
