But the Industrial Strategy is also keen to improve how UK companies commercialise the research performed by universities around the country – currently funded by the research councils.
It’s here we get into horse and cart territory. Should UK researchers pursue their various areas of interest and present that work for commercialisation or should business help to direct research towards areas which they believe can be exploited?
If you subscribe to the latter approach, then you might be somewhat disappointed to see UKRI’s management structure, as outlined on its recently launched website. The reason? There doesn’t appear to be any industry representation.
Sir Mark has said that UKRI needs to deliver a ‘joined up’ approach. Perhaps involvement of industry might help achieve that.
