SBS plays integral role in new enterprise research centre
The University of Strathclyde is set to play an integral role in a new £2.9 million centre that will generate world-class research to help stimulate growth for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
The Enterprise Research Centre, hosted by Warwick and Aston Universities, will help develop an understanding of the factors affecting business investment, performance and growth. It will become a national and international focal point for research, knowledge and expertise on SMEs.
Professor Sara Carter, Head of the University of Strathclyde’s Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, has been appointed as an Associate Director of the new centre which launches on 1 January 2013. The Universities of Birmingham, De Montfort and Imperial College London are also part of the consortium.
Professor Carter said, “We are delighted that the University of Strathclyde has been chosen to play such an important role in this consortium of the UK’s leading business schools and I am looking forward to taking up the role of Associate Director.
“Strathclyde Business School is currently engaged in some of the leading entrepreneurship research in the UK and the centre will provide us with the opportunity to improve the evidence base that is critical for the future of Scottish SMEs.
“Ultimately the centre will have a significant influence on policy regarding enterprise in the UK and will not only help SMEs to achieve growth, but will also encourage people to start a business of their own and boost the Scottish and UK economy.”
The centre will exploit and develop the existing knowledge base and data resources, strengthen the links between evidence and practice, and inform Government policy and business practice for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK. It is a joint collaboration between the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the British Bankers Association (BBA), the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Technology Strategy Board.
The Director of the Centre will be Stephen Roper, Professor of Enterprise at Warwick Business School. He said, “I am delighted to be leading the Enterprise Research Centre with Professor Mark Hart from Aston Business School. By working together we will generate world-class research which will both benefit business and inform UK policy development.”
He continued, “The Centre will research important issues including business ambition, leadership and management, finance, innovation, productivity and diversity. Our key objective is to provide policy-makers and SME managers with the evidence they need to make good decisions for growth. We have three main ambitions: to conduct and publish exciting and novel research; to provide the evidence for better growth strategy in the UK; and to establish the Enterprise Research Centre as a reference point for anyone interested in issues around business growth”.
Business and Enterprise Minister Michael Fallon said, “It is essential we listen to our SMEs and understand what makes them tick and how we can help them grow. By collaborating with partners and bringing together leading academics, the new Enterprise Research Centre will help the formulation of long-term policy that will help to stimulate economic growth in the UK.”
Professor Paul Boyle, Chief Executive of the ESRC, said, "Supporting economic performance and sustainable growth, and developing collaborative partnerships with business and policy are key priorities for the ESRC. I am pleased to be working with the British Bankers Association, the Technology Strategy Board and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to develop this new Enterprise Research Centre. Our complementary knowledge and experience make us ideal partners in this investment and by working together we will generate research which will directly benefit business and inform policy development."
Anthony Browne, CEO of BBA, said, “We very much look forward to working with Warwick University and its strong academic consortium in getting the Enterprise Research Centre up and running. This very important initiative will help inform policy, provide a focal point for SME research, bring key knowledge together in one place and help banks better serve their business customers. The research will help policy makers, business organisations and investors work together to develop and deliver initiatives that support enterprise and the UK growth agenda.”
Iain Gray, Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board, said, "We are very pleased at the announcement that this group of recognised experts in the field of entrepreneurship will lead the new Enterprise Research Centre. We are looking forward to working together with our co-funders and the Centre to develop a better understanding of the drivers of growth for innovative entrepreneurial businesses, which will help us at the Technology Strategy Board to shape our strategy and delivery mechanisms to be as effective as possible in stimulating business-led innovation and driving economic growth."
