Sheila Deighton

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Sheila Deighton
Regional Development Agency HEI Innovation
AURIL Conference 25 April 2008

• Knowledge Transfer Manager

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NW OF ENGLAND

• 111 Bn Economy
• UKs largest University
• Largest Regional Airport
• Most diverse English Region

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Knowledge Base
World Class Higher Education Institutions

• 15 Universities
• 25 units 5 rated
• 59 units 5 rated
• 50,000 students pa studying STEM subjects
• 15,000 graduates pa in STEM subjects

Agency spends approximately 15 of its total
budget with the HEIs, the majority of which comes
from the Science, Innovation and Cluster budgets.
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Regional Benefits

• Increase HEI impact a priority for the Agency
• Stimulate interaction with SMEs to increase
  innovation within the Region
• Engagement with industry and introducing new
  knowledge into the economy
• Significant contributors to the economy in 2005/6
• 396m Research Development Spend (2004)
• 41m income from CPD course
• 43.7m income from regeneration activity
• 9m from the sale of IP

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Working with Lancaster University

• Long history of support
• Developing projects to meet the Regions
  priorities
• gt20m of support over 4 years
• Important strategic relationships with Lancaster
  University
• Clear benefits to both the University the Region

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Just a Few Examples of Our Collaborations

• Infolab21
• Environment Centre
• Northern Leadership Academy
• Daresbury Science Innovation Centre
• Cockcroft Institute

• Manchester Science Park
• Liverpool Science Park
• University of Cumbria
• UMIST/Manchester University Merger
• Zoonosis Centre

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Websites

• www.nwda.co.uk
• www.northwestscience.com
• www.businesslinknw.co.uk

Contact Sheila Deighton Sheila.deighton_at_nwda.co.u
k 01925 400466