Co-operation between Tampere University and Brunel University London is expanding
Tampere University and Brunel University London are intensifying their strategic co-operation. The partnership is rising to a completely new level with a new project, which the research funding agency Research England awarded earlier this year to develop the universities’ partnership.
Provost Jarmo Takala says that Tampere University greatly appreciates the funding and the new phase of collaboration. The co-operation – which started at Tampere University of Technology, a predecessor university – has rapidly grown into a strategic partnership at the University level.
“It was not until four years ago that the first small delegation from Brunel visited Tampere. Since then, we have widened the collaboration by regular visits and joint seed corn funding applications. Now we have multiple connections across faculties, five collaborative EU projects, and the first joint publications are out,” Takala says.
The latest joint seed funding application round took place in September and October, and four new co-operation projects have begun in early 2020.
Research England awarded its highly competed Investment Initiative (I3) grant to only eight British universities and their international partners. The joint application of Brunel London and Tampere University demonstrates a new kind of international co-operation whose significance lies not only on its wide scale but also on the strategic nature of undertakings that go further than individual contacts.
Takala believes that diversifying the collaboration ensures its longevity and fosters commitment to joint goals.
“We have also agreed to soon take the first steps in joint educational activities. European higher education is changing towards international cross-institutional studies. Our possible education collaboration could be an example to all,” Takala says.
“We are delighted to launch our I3 programme with Tampere University funded by Research England. For Brunel it provides a great opportunity to exchange staff and students with a world class research intensive university; it will open new opportunities for exciting research programmes across a range of disciplines” says Geoff Rodgers, Vice Provost – Research from Brunel.
Vice President for Research Juha Teperi appreciates Brunel’s activeness in applying for Research England funding. In the early stages, the project concentrates on research collaboration by improving, among other things, researcher mobility and supporting the mutual use of research infrastructure, which will also benefit early career researchers.
“With the I3 funding, we can significantly expand the collaboration to new research areas, and we have a concrete action plan over the next five years. The project will also provide important exchange opportunities for our doctoral students,” Teperi says.
Teperi emphasises the effects on the preconditions of research and the impact of research results. According to him, the project also bolsters collaboration with the business world. In addition to researcher mobility, joint industry events are also to be expected.
“By joining forces, we can provide more expertise for our industry partners and be more attractive in the acquisition of collaborative research funding. I am confident that our joint projects will increase the impact of our universities in both United Kingdom and Finland,” Teperi says.
In the Finnish Independence Day week in December 2019, Tampere University and Brunel University organised a launching event of the joint project in London.
Further information on Research England’s I3 funding