Paul Robinson, a specialist in robotics at the University of Plymouth, is
the first British researcher to take the plunge in a government scheme to
give academics experience of life in industry. Robinson is now in Newcastle
upon Tyne for a six-month spell with a company called Robot Simulation.
The idea of the Senior Academics in Industry Scheme, which was conceived by
the Department of Trade and Industry, is to break down barriers between
universities and the private sector.
The scheme is organised by the Teaching Company Directorate in Faringdon,
Oxfordshire, which is a branch of the Cranfield Institute of Technology. It
expects all parties will benefit from the scheme. Companies with specific
problems will have access to the advanced knowledge of academics, while
academics will be able to tackle practical problems.
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The organisers also hope that when the academics return to their 鈥榠vory
towers鈥�, they will have a greater appreciation of what industry needs, and
the relentless pressures of commerce. 鈥業t is import- ant that they should be
in a position to influence the development of research and teaching in their
university,鈥� says the Teaching Company Directorate.
People thinking of going into the scheme should target smaller companies,
suggests Robinson. 鈥業t鈥檚 delightful, because my contribution has been
recognised from the word go,鈥� he says. 鈥榃ithin companies, especially small,
high-technology firms, there鈥檚 a freedom of operation and lack of
bureaucracy that鈥檚 refreshing after working for a long time in the
administration of a university,鈥�
So far, Robinson is the only academic to win a place, although two others
are 鈥榠n the pipeline鈥�. The directorate has received just five applications.
Academic and industrial researchers seem keen on the idea. 鈥業t鈥檚 great,鈥�
says John Cadogan, who recently retired from BP. 鈥業t must not be a rather
nice holiday. Give them a real job and give them an industrial salary.鈥� Tom
Inch, secretary-general of the Royal Society of Chemistry, says: 鈥楾o get
universities more familiar with the rate of change in business has got to be
a good thing.鈥� But he has reservations. 鈥楾he real hassle is that if you put
a really good academic in, they鈥檙e likely to stay in industry,鈥� he says.
鈥楾hey might be the people academia does not want to lose.鈥�
John Mulvey of Save British Science says companies need a better
understanding of science. 鈥業 would hope to see more people from academic
science turning up as non-executive directors on the boards of companies,鈥�
he says.
