In a speech at Policy Exchange, he set out a plan to help Britain become the best place in the world for science and research and announced an invitation for proposals for a new type of university with a focus on science and technology and on postgraduates. There will be no additional Government funding.
He also announced the setting up of Leadership Councils in E-Infrastructure and in Synthetic Biology bringing together key players to drive forward private investment and innovation and an ambition for universities funding from external sources to grow by 10% over the next three years in a bit to get more universities into the top 100 in the world.
Willetts said: "If properly nurtured they can ensure that Britain will be up there as a leading location for research in the physical and life sciences and beyond. Britain can be the preferred location for companies' R&D.
"We can have world-class industries using cutting-edge technologies. We can have a prosperous future with a role in the world."
