CfE kick starts debate on future of enterprise and universities

The future of enterprise and universities in the North West came under scrutiny at a special conference in Manchester on 3 April which attracted over 100 key delegates and launched a major debate on the role of universities in supporting business in the region.

“This was a unique opportunity for politicians, policy-makers and academics to examine the way in which the landscape of enterprise, and related support activities, will change over the next 5 to 10 years,” said Professor Ossie Jones, Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Head of the Centre for Enterprise (CfE) at Manchester Metropolitan University Business School, which hosted the conference. “In particular, it critically reviewed how universities can contribute to the success of UK PLC, especially the North West's regional economic strategy.”

 

Under the banner ‘Universities and North West Business Support: The New Enterprise Landscape’, the conference brought together high profile figures from BusinessLink, local councils, development agencies, business support agencies and academia.

Role of Higher Education 

The conference was held in response to recent debates both within Higher Education and Government on the future role of Higher Education within the business support environment. The Government's recent Business Support Simplification Strategy, alongside other important initiatives such as the embedding of the Higher Education Innovation Fund into Higher Education Institution funding models, mean that universities may be able to play an important part in helping Government, both regional and local, to achieve their objectives.

Together with hosts Professor John Brooks, MMU Vice-Chancellor, and Professor Huw Morris, Dean of MMU Business School, special guests included Professor Henry Etzkowitz, Professor of Management of Innovation at Newcastle University Business School and keynote speaker Tim Sheward, Head of Enterprise at the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

The entrepreneurial university

 

Citing examples from America, Brazil and Sweden of universities that actively encourage entrepreneurial programmes and activities, including firm formation and growth, Professor Etzkowitz advocated using research groups as ‘quasi-firms’. Here, a professor would be a research entrepreneur, team leader, fund raiser and personnel manager. Involving collaboration with graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and technicians, together they could create an enterprise that would be similar to a small business but with the absence of a direct profit motive.

“The University of the future could incorporate three aspects,” Professor Etzkowitz explained. “Firstly, business incubation could be integrated into academic units. Secondly, research could involve hybrid centers comprising academic, industry and government researchers, and thirdly, teaching could be in the form of virtual classes including on-campus and off-campus participants.”

North West as enterprising region 

Keynote speaker Tim Sheward, Head of Enterprise at the Northwest Regional Development Agency, discussed the role of the North West as an enterprising region. “Enterprise is increasingly important at EU, UK and North West policy levels,” he explained. “The Enterprise White Paper is about unlocking the UK’s talent for people from all sections of society in our small businesses, helping them to grow. This is where the UK’s long term prosperity is going to reside.”

“Putting enterprise in a North West context, we have a £14 bn productivity gap and need 75,500 more businesses,” he said. “The average start-up rate is 32 in the North West compared to 39 for England overall. We’re in the bottom two thirds of the regions for enterprise, but there has been significant improvement.” 

Tim outlined the North West’s Enterprise Strategy Aims which include raising enterprise awareness, prioritising targets for public sector support, and providing a framework for co-ordinated action. The Strategy also aims to improve individual’s and businesses’ access to support, establish a strategic vision for the region, and encourage a broad, holistic approach to enterprise. 

“We need to maximise the competitive of existing businesses and start-ups, but also inspire enterprise in young people, stimulate enterprise in business and encourage start-ups and high growth potential small firms,” added Tim. “Our goal is for the North West to achieve a 20% increase in enterprise performance by 2026, close the regions’ productivity gap and gain higher business density levels.” 

Future role 

“Bringing together key figures from business, academia, enterprise, and support agencies was a first important step in exploring the role of universities in supporting business in the North West,” concluded Professor Jones. “We hope this is just the beginning in a series of discussions and debates we plan to organise on this issue, which is vital for both the future of Universities and economic and social development in the region.”

To view the presentation slides of the day please click here