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HEFCE has announced it is awarding Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ more than £5 million over three years through the fourth round of the Higher Education Innovation Fund, in support of the university's knowledge-transfer strategy.

At the same time Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ was highlighted by HEFCE in an overview report on the significant progress that the higher-education sector has made in supporting economic and social development.Ìý Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ was cited for its "commitment to a step-change in performance through integration of its economic and social contributions with its mission".

To mark the announcement, Ian Pearson, UK Minister of State for Science & Innovation in the government's Department of Innovation, Universities & Skills, visited Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Management Science & Innovation (MSI) on 2 October 2008.

He was shown around the new Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Engineering Front Building by Professor Malcolm Grant, Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ President and Provost, Professor Mike Spyer, Vice-Provost (Enterprise), Tim Barnes, Executive Director of Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Advances, and Professor Steve Currall, Head of Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ MSI. The minister then held a Q&A session with Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ MS&I students.

Professor Spyer said: "Our knowledge-transfer activities are significant and wide-ranging: from the supply of well-educated graduates, research publications and academic texts, to consultancy, research collaborations, short courses, events, sponsored studentships and technology commercialisation. We are committed to broadening and deepening these activities, because they are core to Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾'s mission to address the world's major challenges.

"This funding commitment will enhance our delivery of knowledge transfer, not least through two main programmes to develop our relationships with business. The Corporate Alliance Programme is for collaborations with a small number of major research-intensive businesses, and seeks to understand the corporate training needs and address them through Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾'s relevant expertise and technology. The Business Partnership Programme identifies and targets large multinational companies and SMEs with which Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ can develop longer-term tailored partnerships, in order to enhance the university's international standing, stimulate Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ research, consultancy and teaching income, and benefit other university activities."

To find out more, use the links at the top of this article.

Pictures show Ian Pearson MP and MSI students at the minister's Q+A session