Vice-Chancellor Stuart Croft, will chair a new expert advisory panel formed by the Russell Group. The panel will develop strategies to boost the impact of UK universities in supporting the government’s Industrial Strategy. Comprised of business and academic leaders, the panel will provide recommendations to enhance collaboration between universities, government, and industry, driving economic growth and innovation.

The Russell Group of research-intensive universities has today announced a new expert advisory panel that will help develop detailed proposals on how to maximise the impact of the UK higher education sector to support delivery of the government’s Industrial Strategy.

Panel members confirmed so far include former Secretary of State Greg Clark; Jen Tippin, Group Chief Operating Officer for NatWest Group; Lucy Yu, CEO of the Centre for Net Zero (Octopus Energy); Dr Robert Scott, Vice President of Human Genetics and Genomics at GSK; and Dr Arnab Basu, Chief Executive of successful university spinout Kromek – as well as other senior business leaders, founders and university experts.

Chaired by Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Warwick, the panel will help set out recommendations for universities, government, business and public sector partners that enhance the impact of university R&D and innovation work on economic growth and public services.

The panel was announced today alongside the publication of Future Ready, a new report from the Russell Group outlining some of the ways research-intensive universities are already using partnerships with business, the public and third sectors, the NHS and others to deliver in priority areas such as health and social care, clean energy, and economic resilience.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is expected to set out further details of government plans for a new Industrial Strategy alongside the Budget later this month.

Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Warwick and chair of the new advisory panel, said:

“Research-intensive universities are a national resource for the UK that will have a vital role to play in supporting government efforts to deliver the economic growth and resilience the country needs.

“Russell Group institutions and other universities are already a key bridge between public and private sector investment. Cutting-edge research helps business and public services to improve and thrive, and our existing long-standing partnerships mean we can be a cornerstone of collaboration between government, industry and the public sector.

“Looking closely at the way we support existing university partnerships and develop new ones is crucial if we are to maximise the impact of the new Industrial Strategy. The Russell Group expert panel will help develop detailed proposals around what universities can do to improve the way they work with business, and provide government with options for reform that will help the UK secure competitive advantage in AI, data, health, cleantech and other sectors that will help shape the future of our economy.

“The panel members are leaders in their fields with proven track records in business, politics, research and innovation. Their insights will be invaluable for universities and government as work continues to design and implement an Industrial Strategy which delivers the growth the UK needs. We are enormously grateful to the panel for their support.”

Read the full report, Future Ready: The role of research-intensive universities in an innovation-led Industrial Strategy, here.

ENDS

Notes:

• Confirmed members of the advisory group so far include Stuart Croft (chair), Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Warwick; former Secretary of State Greg Clark; Lucy Yu, CEO of the Centre for Net Zero (Octopus Energy); Dr Robert Scott, Vice President of Human Genetics and Genomics at GSK; and Dr Arnab Basu, Chief Executive of Kromek.
• A report by London Economics commissioned by the Russell Group, published in February 2024, found that the group’s 24 universities generate almost £38bn for the UK economy through research, commercialisation and innovation activity.
• Start-ups and spin-outs alone accounted for £17.8bn in direct, indirect and induced impacts.
• Research and innovation at the Russell Group also supported 254,000 jobs in 2021-22 across all four nations of the UK.