The Warwick route to profitable technology (transfer)

The concept of close co-operative associations being formed between manufacturing industry and academic institutions is far from new. Yet the creation of a virtually self-funded university department devoted to industrial engineering partnerships will still probably be received with some incredulity by many traditionalists. Here, the author describes how, since its formation in 1980, the University of Warwick Manufacturing Group (UK) has grown to become one of the largest centres of its kind in Europe and has acquired the status of role model, on an increasingly international scale.<>