Russell Group assembles expert panel to advise on universities’ role in delivering Industrial Strategy

Panel members confirmed so far include former Secretary of State Greg Clark; Jen Tippin, Group Chief Operating Officer for NatWest Group; Lucy Yu, CEO of the Centre for Net Zero (Octopus Energy); Dr Robert Scott, Vice President of Human Genetics and Genomics at GSK; and Dr Arnab Basu, Chief Executive of successful university spinout Kromek – as well as other senior business leaders, founders and university experts. 

Chaired by Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Warwick, the panel will help set out recommendations for universities, government, business and public sector partners that enhance the impact of university R&D and innovation work on economic growth and public services. 

The panel was announced today alongside the publication of Future Ready, a new report from the Russell Group outlining some of the ways research-intensive universities are already using partnerships with business, the public and third sectors, the NHS and others to deliver in priority areas such as health and social care, clean energy, and economic resilience. 

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is expected to set out further details of government plans for a new Industrial Strategy alongside the Budget later this month. 

Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Warwick and chair of the new advisory panel, said: 

“Research-intensive universities are a national resource for the UK that will have a vital role to play in supporting government efforts to deliver the economic growth and resilience the country needs.