The National Centre for Universities and Business¡¯s Growing Value Scotland task force will be co-chaired by Sir Ian Diamond, vice-chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, and Rob Woodward, chief executive of STV Group.

It will work to identify reforms that will increase the value of publicly-funded research and improve collaboration between industry and academia in Scotland, focusing on challenges, opportunities and competitiveness. Recommendations will be detailed in a final report which is set to be published in January 2016.

Mr Woodward said the task group was being formed at the beginning of a crucial period for the future of Scotland.

¡°As Scotland renegotiates its place in the Union ensuring economic sustainability is vital,¡± he said. ¡°Scotland and the rest of the UK will only preserve our key role in the world economy if we can lead the way in research and development.¡±

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The task force will build on the work of the UK-wide Enhancing Value Task Force set up in 2011 by NCUB¡¯s predecessor, the Council for Industry and Higher Education, in conjunction with the UK-Innovation Research Centre.

The co-chairmen will be supported by a four-strong executive group made up of Peter Downes and Anton Muscatelli, vice-chancellors of the universities of Dundee and Glasgow respectively, alongside NCUB chief executive David Docherty and Stephen Blackman, group economist at Royal Bank of Scotland.

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Dr Docherty said higher education and businesses needed to work together to improve opportunities for students and the Scottish economy.

¡°This is a time of unprecedented change in Scotland and it¡¯s vital that we have a full understanding of the shape of Scottish research and development in order to plan for the future,¡± he said.

The task force¡¯s steering group includes Sir Timothy O¡¯Shea, vice-chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, and Andrea Nolan, his counterpart at Edinburgh Napier University.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com