Research council opens commercial gates

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has won nearly £1m to help it support the commercialisation of research in its research centres.

The British Antarctic Survey ship James Clark Ross.

The money comes from the competitive Public Sector Research Exploitation (PSRE) fund run by the Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills. NERC say that they will use the £964,680 award to accelerate growth in their commercialisation activity.

NERC’s commercialisation team leader, Tessa Edgecombe said: “NERC is keen to build partnerships with the business sector and we look forward to working with the relevant stakeholders to produce an increasing number of spinouts, licence deals and other successful outcomes.”

NERC works closely with researchers and technologists at its four research centres - the British Antarctic Survey, the British Geological Survey, the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory - to help turn ideas from research into sustainable business opportunities.

Science & Innovation Minister Ian Pearson said: “Top quality research is carried out within research council institutes to meet the needs of the UK in areas such as health, defence, environment, agriculture and food. But it's vital that we also maximise the economic impact of this research to meet the challenges of the 21st century.”

The income from research commissioned across the four NERC research centres topped £42m in 2006/07, while income from data licensing and the sale of information was over £3m.