but delivery and funding will determine its impact Stronger incentives for mayors, targeted innovation investment and business support could have lasting consequences for local economies. Measures confirmed in the Budget could together change how the UK attracts business investment, develops competitive industries and creates better-paid jobs, according to the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB). Plans to give mayors a share of income tax revenues would link

Over the past few years, I’ve spoken to many academics and businesses, particularly small businesses, about collaboration. Those conversations have made me increasingly positive about what is possible. Our universities contain extraordinary expertise, facilities and ideas. Our small businesses bring ingenuity, commercial insight and real-world problems that need solving. When those strengths come together, businesses can test and validate ideas, overcome technical challenges,

The National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB) welcomes the ambition set out by Prime Minister Andy Burnham at the Innovation Nation Summit to make the UK a world leader in innovation, and the recognition of universities as one of the country’s greatest strengths in achieving this. Burnham’s speech follows an open letter sent to the Prime Minister, in which senior business and university leaders warn that devolution must strengthen the contribution of places to the

Finding the time, expertise or resource to tackle a new challenge isn't easy, especially for growing businesses. Through konfer, NCUB helps organisations connect with university talent and expertise, turning live industry challenges into Master's projects, research collaborations and innovation opportunities.

Meet the organisations using konfer to find new partners When organisations need fresh ideas or specialist expertise, the right people are not always the ones already in their network. Universities may have the knowledge and facilities businesses need, but not always the visibility of live industry challenges. Businesses may know what problem they need to solve, but not where to find the right research partner. And overseas organisations looking to work with the UK innovation

Andrew Mackenzie, Director of Strategic Networks, NCUB This was my first Knowledge Exchange UK Conference, a few months into a new job at NCUB, and the theme was 'Knowledge Exchange for the Future'. I had the privilege of helping to open the conference with remarks at the drinks reception, where I said that the word "future" was doing a lot of work. It sets a direction, but it also asks something of everyone in the room: what do we need to do differently? Our own session, a