Newcastle Science City:The Triple Helix in Action

Brussels Open DaysRegions & Cities of Science Workshop

Wednesday, 10th October 2007

Estelle Chatard

One of Six Science Cities

Chancellor’s statement in December 2004 provided a catalyst for action

Newcastle

Manchester

Birmingham

Bristol

York

Nottingham

– Significantly accelerate and expand the realisation of commercial value from science related activity

– As engine for economic, social and physical regeneration of city & region

– Build on innovation strategy for North East and Strategy for Success

Create an environment where science & business work together

From Regional Innovation Strategy to NSC

• 19th Century: Industrial Revolution, major inventions: electric light bulb, steam turbine driven ship

• 20th Century success evaporated as industries did not diversify. Economic activity dropped

• 1990s: investment to exploit and develop the attractiveness of the city. Culture led regeneration. Times of London, Newcastle is “the new capital of Britain”.

• 2001: strategy for success. Changing the industrial structure by exploiting the knowledge base.

• 2005: Newcastle Science City. Creates an integrated regional innovation system centred around an attractive and highly connected city centre environment. Three core partners coming together

Newcastle Science City - Partner Objectives -

Newcastle University World class research

Commercialisation

International recognition

Excellent facilitates/sites

Attract brightest and best

Regional engagement

“Excellence with a Purpose”

One NorthEastBuild on ‘Strategy for Success’

Regeneration of places

Job creation

Skills development

Attract investors

“Regional Economic Strategy”

Newcastle City CouncilUrban renewal

Knowledge economy

Spread prosperity

Create jobs/develop skills

HEI sustainability

Retain/attract population

“City Regeneration Strategy”

Newcastle Science CityCreate environment where science & business work together

A key driver to achieve economic, social and physical regeneration of city & region

The Triple Helix

• A triple helix regime typically begins as university, industry and government enter into a reciprocal relationship in which each attempts to enhance the performance of the other (Etzkowitz 2007)

• Each institutional sphere is thus more likely to become a creative source of innovation and to support the emergence of creativity that arises in other spirals

The Triple Helix 2

• Internal transformation within each helix: e.g. an entrepreneurial university

• An institutional sphere brings about transformation in another sphere: e.g. government influencing IP laws

• A new overlay of trilateral linkages, networks has been created to institutionalise interface: e.g. NSC partnership

• The inter-institutional networks have a recursive effect on the originating spheres as well as the larger society

NSC Best Practice : 4 Key Integrated

Strands

• Physical development

• Critical Mass of Scientific Research Base

• Education and Public Engagement

• Accelerated commercialisation of research base

World Class Facilities

• For scientific research, teaching and business

• Co-locate research, business and support infrastructure

• Brewery Site

• Development of existing sitese.g. Campus for Ageing &

Vitality

• Other regional locations

Brewery Site

• 19 acre landmark site

• An environment to attract world class business & science

• Create critical mass of scientific activity for science based urban regeneration

• Financially sustainable business community

World Class Science

• Invest where research strength aligns with commercial potential

– In areas where region already excels

– Involve all regional universities to achieve critical mass

– Critical mass of private investment/collaborative partners

– Able to attract international talent

Four Major Themes

Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Ageing

& Health

Molecular Engineering

Energy &

EnvironmentProvide focus for investment in infrastructure,

facilities & personnel

Education & Public Engagement

• Develop future skills base– Radical approaches to teaching of

science– Schools, colleges & universities– Improve participation & success in

science

• Create supportive environment – Scientifically literate general public– View science & science based

businesses in positive light– Foster & value scientific interests

and skills

The Commercialisation of Science

‘ScienceCo’ is a corporate vehicle designed to attract investment to significantly accelerate and expand the realisation of commercial value from science related activity, and nurture that activity as an engine for economic growth and development.

‘ScienceCo’ Framework

Developmentand OperationsDevelopment

and Operations

University(ies)University(ies) IndustryIndustry

Commercial R&D

Institute(s)

Commercial R&D

Institute(s)

JointR&D

Centre(s)

JointR&D

Centre(s)

CollaborativeProject(s)

CollaborativeProject(s)

Pre- spinout or licence(s)Pre- spinout or licence(s)

New Ventures in Services or Products

New Ventures in Services or Products

‘ScienceCo’

InvestmentInvestment

Service Units:

Projecttypes:

‘ScienceCo’participates incommercially

viable projects, using service

units

Core service provision of ‘ScienceCo’

Investment to Date

• £100m committed to Science City related projects– Brewery site– North East England Stem Cell Institute – Institute for Ageing and Health– PET Scanner– Centre for Nanoelectronic Characterisation– Centre for Advanced Electrical Drives– PeTEC Centre– Excellence Fund– Education & Public Engagement– Enabling Fund

References

• Etzkowitz, Dzisah, Zhou (2007) The Triple Helix model for innovation: the university-industry-government interaction, Asia Pacific Tech Monitor, 24

• Loet Leydesdorff, The triple Helix Model and the Study of Knowledge-based innovation systems

• O. Belkhodja and R. Landry (2007) The triple helix collaboration: why do researchers collaborate with industry and the government? What are the factors that influence the perceived barriers?, Scientometrics, Vol 70 No 2

• R. Viale and H. Etzkowitz, Third academic revolution: polyvalent knowledge; the DNA of the triple helix