Spotlight on university and business links

Professor Ian Oakes, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise, will present the lecture on Wednesday, 19 May 2010 at 6pm.

The lecture, titled the role of university-business collaboration in influencing regional innovation, will take place in lecture theatre MC001 at the Wolverhampton City Campus.

In his lecture, Professor Oakes will consider the relationship between knowledge, innovation and competitiveness in a regional context.

He said: “I will outline the most common forms of university and business partnerships in use. Conclusions will be drawn on the effectiveness of ‘third stream’ activities undertaken by UK universities, such as consultancy and contract research, and identify issues regarding future government funding.

“The lecture will also investigate how research intensive and non-research intensive universities can undertake different but complementary roles in supporting regional economic development.”

Professor Ian Oakes joined the University of Wolverhampton in 2008. He is responsible for the integration and management of the University’s partnerships with a wide variety of external stakeholders as well as future strategic regional developments.

The 13th public lecture series is open to all and aims to showcase University research on a wide range of subjects. Light refreshments will be served after the lecture.

For more information, visit www.wlv.ac.uk/publiclectures, email grads@wlv.ac.uk, or call 01902 323317.

ENDS

Over the last 10 years, Professor Ian Oakes has held a number of senior management posts within the former Faculty of Engineering and Computer Technology at Birmingham City University and more recently in the newly formed Technology Innovation Centre at Millennium Point.

Ian has been involved in an extensive programme of technology transfer activities, both national and transnational, operating across a range of sectors and has led the development of a number of initiatives focusing specifically on the transfer of technology from academia to both large and small firms.

For media inquiries please contact Vickie Warren in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736