PA 272/12
Two leading Midlands universities, The University of Nottingham and the University of Birmingham, are building on their recent landmark collaboration by launching a £400,000 fund to support new joint projects.
The money will help to deliver new scientific breakthroughs and innovations as well as supporting a range of other initiatives, such as developing new approaches to teaching at the two universities.
This innovative partnership between Nottingham and Birmingham, which was signed in 2011, has already led to the establishment of a multi-million pound specialist centre for arthritis research and a £2m joint investment to strengthen academic links with Brazil.
New collaborative projects
The creation of the new £400,000 Birmingham-Nottingham Strategic Collaboration Fund will help to build on these existing relationships, as well as creating new collaborative projects which will deliver real benefits for both universities.
Professor David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, said: “We are two of the leading research universities in the UK and share a global ambition. This new fund will allow us to capitalise on our combined academic strengths and range, and greatly expand our joint activity.
"This latest investment demonstrates our commitment to the strategic partnership and to helping build the individual relationships upon which successful institutional collaboration is based.”
Professor David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Nottingham said: “In a globally competitive world, business and social prosperity increasingly depends on a knowledge-based economy, driven in large part by discoveries and ideas generated by research-led universities such as Nottingham and Birmingham.
"By committing funding to fostering a multidisciplinary approach we can continue to leverage the excellent partnerships we are already developing.”
Innovative partnership
The universities of Nottingham and Birmingham share characteristics of scale, history, outstanding research, high quality student experience and international engagement.
The innovative partnership builds on a number of existing collaborations, including involvement in the Midlands Physics Alliance, the Manufacturing Technology Centre, and the Midlands Energy Consortium.
Nottingham and Birmingham are also formal partners in two large Research Council-supported Doctoral Training Centres, one in the area of Efficient Fossil Energy Technology, the other in the applications of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells.
— Ends —
PICTURED ABOVE (L-R): Professor David Eastwood and Professor David Greenaway.
Notes to editors:
For up to the minute media alerts, follow us on Twitter
Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham, described by The Sunday Times University Guide 2011 as ‘the embodiment of the modern international university’, has 40,000 students at award-winning campuses in the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia. It is ranked in the UK's Top 10 and the World's Top 75 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong (SJTU) and the QS World University Rankings. It was named ‘the world’s greenest university’ in the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking 2011.
More than 90 per cent of research at The University of Nottingham is of international quality, according to the most recent Research Assessment Exercise. The University’s vision is to be recognised around the world for its signature contributions, especially in global food security, energy & sustainability, and health. The University won a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2011, for its research into global food security.
Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest ever fund-raising campaign, will deliver the University’s vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future. More news
The University of Birmingham is a truly vibrant, global community and an internationally-renowned institution. Ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions, its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 4,000 international students from nearly 150 countries.
The University is home to nearly 30,000 students. With more than 7,500 postgraduate students from across the world, Birmingham is one of the most popular universities for postgraduate study in the UK.
The University plays an integral role in the economic, social and cultural growth of local and regional communities; working closely with businesses and organisations, employing approximately 6,000 staff and providing 10,000 graduates annually.