Competitiveness in the UK - Summit 2001A major Summit attended by government, industry and academic leaders from both sides of the Atlantic is being held in Cambridge today. The Summit will review the work to date of the Cambridge-MIT Institute (CMI), the unique partnership between Cambridge University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which was launched by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in November 1999. CMI's goal is to enhance the contribution that pioneering research and teaching excellence makes to economic success. The Summit is hosted by CMI's National Competitiveness Network (NCN). This encompasses a wider community of universities, business and government agencies throughout the UK concerned with improving competitiveness, productivity and entrepreneurship. Professor Sir Alec Broers, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, said:
Charles Vest, President of MIT said:
The Right Hon. Paul Boateng MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury will address the Conference Dinner on the evening of the 31st October where he will talk about the importance of research, and sharing best practice to ensure we all benefit from technological advancements. He will also welcome the initiatives that are underway with CMI. The Summit will be addressed by leading economists Professor Bob Rowthorn of the University of Cambridge and Nobel Laureate Professor Robert Solow of MIT, who will debate key issues affecting the productivity gap between the UK and the US. Professor Alan Hughes, UK Programme Director of the National Competitiveness Network, says: "This is a very exciting and important event for us. It provides a platform for CMI to interface with leaders from industry, government and academia and discuss with them the way in which it can support the improvement of the UK's economic performance." Part of the Summit proceedings will be devoted to presentations of the new work being funded by CMI. These include innovative science and technology-based research projects, and the undergraduate exchange programme between Cambridge and MIT which seeks to enhance the quality and leadership skills of new graduates as they join the business environment. There will also be news of CMI's professional practice programme which initiates a new style of transatlantic teaching for postgraduates and senior business executives, using the best of modern technology to support it. The day will conclude with a discussion forum between speakers and the participants, chaired by James Naughtie. For further information, please contact:
Notes to Editors:1. Cambridge-MIT Institute (CMI): A bold new partnership between two world-class organisations - the University of Cambridge and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Its mission, supported by the UK government and industrial and other partners, is to convert pioneering research and teaching excellence into economic success. 2. National Competitiveness Network (NCN): A CMI programme aimed at linking industry with universities, largely through the Science Enterprise Challenge Centres (SECs - see below), all of which are NCN members. The Network deploys educational and research results from leading universities and co-ordinates the development of joint research projects to be undertaken by the university members of the Network. 3. Science and Enterprise Challenge Centres (SECs): 13 regional centres, involving 56 universities, were established under the Science Enterprise Challenge, a government strategy to encourage the transfer of science and technology innovation to the business sector. The aim is to raise an awareness of business enterprise at all levels within universities and foster co-operation between academics and the business world. Government funding is provided to enable new activities, although each SEC has a business plan to ensure future sustainability. List of SECs that are members of NCN:
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