Prosperity Partnerships: What Are They?
Prosperity Partnerships, which were announced by Minister for Science Jo Johnson in July 2017, are intended to strengthen the links between the UK’s research base, industry and business partners.
The Prosperity Partnerships initiative will see a total of at least £78 million invested in research projects at 11 universities. Government funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) will amount to £31 million, with £36 million from commercial and industrial partner organisations in cash or in kind, and £11 million from the universities themselves.
The 11 projects, which will be led by 10 universities, include development of future networks for digital infrastructure; research into the impact and prevention of corrosion; new technologies for detection and treatment of cancer; and the science of high-performance electrical propulsion. Household names such as Siemens, BP, JaguarLandRover, Babcock International, BT and Unilever have committed to various projects, as have specialist firms like M Squared Lasers, who are leaders in advanced photonics.