04 FIRST WORD
First Word Michael Russell MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning I am very pleased to have been invited to welcome readers to this latest issue of Infinite magazine. As readers will know, Edinburgh Research and Innovation (ERI) is a leading example of how innovative, strong and productive relationships with businesses ensure that the world-class research output of our universities is fully realised and recognised. The reason this Government continues to invest in universities and research is because we recognise that doing so is investing in the economy and in opportunity. The key to our success is the ability to build on existing strengths and linking our research base with business. This creates a sustainable platform for new jobs, economic growth and reinforces our international reputation. This year Edinburgh was one of the institutions to share almost £14 million distributed between our universities to support research excellence. I know that the benefits of our research go far beyond business, and our leading thinkers will continue to influence activity across a whole raft of areas from medicine to arts and culture. As we focus on supporting the economic recovery though, the need to improve and exploit links between academia and business has never been more vital. Many of our recent successes in Scotland have been based on a collaborative approach that has been evident through both the development of the research pools and the creation of the Innovation Centres (IC). These have relied on
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both our universities and our key business sectors working together to advance thinking and ensure that our research translates into social and economic benefits. Innovation Centres will be sustainable communities of universities, business and others from Scotland’s leading business sectors. The IC programme represents a novel approach to linking indigenous and international businesses with Scottish universities on a national scale. They will provide solutions to the demandled problems facing industry in Scotland by supporting innovation for future growth. Edinburgh, as always, plays a significant role in such initiatives and the commitment to such collegiate ways of working is perfectly reflected in the work of ERI. ERI has supported entrepreneurship through LAUNCH.ed, and continues to develop pioneering ways to allow industry and entrepreneurs to access technology developed by the University through initiatives such as Open Technology and ‘University Technology – Invented in Scotland’. This edition of Infinite, as always, highlights a number innovative and exciting examples of how the University of Edinburgh and ERI are continuing to meet the challenges of commercialising research, which I hope will be an inspiration to others on how they might address these issues in the future.