The Council for Industry and Higher Education (CIHE) has formed a number of strategic Task Forces to debate how universities and businesses can better collaborate to help resolve some of the most intractable challenges we face within the world today. The Task Forces bring together influential figures and experts from both industry and academia, and provide recommendations to government, business and higher education. 

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CIHE Task Force urges far-reaching changes to ensure UK is a leader in the creative, digital and information technology industries

The Fuse a report published by the Council for Industry and Higher Education (CIHE) says the UK’s future economic prosperity relies, in part, on the ability of government, industry and universities to spark rapid growth in its Creative, Digital and Information Technology businesses. Read more here.

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Areas of focus

The CIHE is currently leading three Task Forces:

• Creative, Digital and Information Technology (CDIT) industries Task Force

Co-chaired by Rona Fairhead, Chair and CEO of the Financial Times Group, and Professor Christopher Snowden, Vice Chancellor of the University of Surrey

• Engineering and Manufacturing Task Force

Co-chaired by Richard Greenhalgh, former Chair of Unilever UK and current Chair of the CIHE, and Professor Nigel Thrift, Vice Chancellor of the University of Warwick

• Enhancing Value: getting the most out of UK Research

Co-chaired by David Eyton, Group Head of Research and Technology at BP, and Professor Shirley Pearce, Vice Chancellor of Loughborough University

Each Task Force comprises up to fourteen members and is supported by a broader experts’ network and a team of strategy managers. The Task Forces meet throughout the year to discuss current and emerging challenges faced by industry and higher education within their sector. The CIHE team and the expert network works closely with the Task Forces to provide both support and necessary evidence bases.

“The shared insights generated by the Task Forces will improve the ways in which students are better prepared for the world of work, and ensure that business and university research collaborations more clearly focus on the UK’s need for global competitiveness and a better society.

Sector by sector, the Task Forces will take an international perspective and look for best practice at home and abroad, and will develop creative and collaborative solutions to the global challenges we face.”

Dr David Docherty, Chief Executive, The Council for Industry and Higher Education

Future Task Forces

Additional Task Forces under consideration may address topics such as: sustainability and the low carbon economy; bio-pharma and regenerative medicine; and rebuilding the financial services sector.