创新的第三引擎——英国高等教育创新基金发展概况及其启示

The Third Engine of Innovation:Background,Evolution,Implementation of High Education Innovation Fund of UK

英国高等教育机构与产业合作表现突出,是英国创新体系的一大亮点。即使金融危机期间,英国高等教育机构获得来自企业和公共部门等第三方的外部研发经费也保持了持续增长态势,高等教育机构与产业及公共部门的合作形式也十分丰富。作为支持知识转移活动的"第三类经费"的主要力量——英国高等教育创新基金发挥了重要作用,已经成为支持大学等英国高等教育机构开展知识转移活动的主要资助渠道,并获得了高等教育机构以及企业等方面的高度评价。通过对英国高等教育创新基金设立的背景及发展情况、资助目标和资助方式的历史演变、实施效果和最新动态进行介绍和分析,提出了我国应从创新驱动发展的角度系统支持大学和科研院所开展知识转移活动,并应尽早研究设立知识转移专项基金等建议。

The outstanding success of the collaboration between UK High Education Institutes （HEIs） and businesses is very important for the UK innovation system. The third steam funding of the HEIs from business and public sector has been increasing and the types of the collaboration are diverse. As the main part of the third stream funding, High Education Innovation Fund （HEIF） of UK plays an important role in supporting the knowledge transfer activities of HEIs in UK, which made HEIF getting high appraise from both HEIs and their business partners. The initial background, current development of HEIF was introduced in this paper, the evolution of ambitions and funding modes was summarized, and the implementation effect was analyzed. Basis on the experiences of HEIF, two suggestions were given as the following. First, we should support the knowledge transfer activities of universities and research institutes to realize the goal of driving development by innovation; Second, a new fund as the same as HEIF of UK should be set up in China which focus on funding knowledge transfer activities of universities and research institutes.