Led by Dr. Richard Hutchins, Managing Director of the Oxford to Cambridge Pan-Regional Partnership, and Professor Tim Vorley, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean at Oxford Brookes Business School, the event highlighted the importance of leveraging academic research to drive regional economic growth and innovation.

Both Dr. Hutchins and Professor Vorley provided valuable insights into how universities can better collaborate with businesses to unlock the full potential of the Oxford-Cambridge region. They discussed the critical role universities play in fostering research that meets industry needs, supporting start-ups, and developing skills that align with future market demands.

The PhD students on the panel brought a diverse range of perspectives, with their specialisms spanning everything from engineering to social sciences. Despite their varied fields of expertise, they shared a common goal: to strengthen the region’s university-business links and ensure that more value is realised from these partnerships. The discussion emphasised the need for more structured collaboration, practical pathways to translate research into real-world applications, and stronger support for student engagement with industry.

This meeting underscored the critical role of university-business partnerships in shaping the future of the Oxford to Cambridge region, with the potential to drive innovation, job creation, and sustainable growth in the region. The enthusiasm and ideas generated by the PhD students were a testament to the future potential of these partnerships.