5th February 2012
Bda Business Breakfast - Oxford To Cambridge Technology Arc
18th Jul 2001
The first BDA Business Breakfast was held on 12 June 2001 to discuss the potential to place Bedford at the heart of an initiative of international importance. The BDA is now looking towards building upon this platform established at the breakfast meeting and to further develop initiatives to ensure Bedford companies gain maximum commercial advantage from the ARC.
The BDA will be devising a programme of events to develop its vision and promote the prosperity of the Bedford area. To discuss how you can be involved in this process or for further information about the ARC please see the contact details below.
For information, the papers given by the three speakers at the event are provide below.
Mike Geddes - Milton Keynes Economic Partnership
• Most think of the UK as being reasonably successful but in reality we are slipping down the competitive league
• Despite high job growth:
• GDP per head is EU average, but 21% lower that G7 average. London’s GDP per head is 7th in the EU, SE 23rd; and EE 32nd.
• In skills terms 55% of UK have no qualifications at all – highest in developed world (UK 45%; France 50%; Germany 30%)
• All is not gloom; UK does have some centres of excellence where academia and business work together very successfully, and where new ideas become commercial.
• In this region Cambridge is one, Oxford another.
• But in world terms these centres are very small. (Cambridge has about 35,000 employees in 1500 businesses; Silicon Valley about 0.5 million in 6-7,000 businesses).
• UK needs scale and focus.
• Arc is about the only area in the UK where we have the potential to complete worldwide.
• Characteristics of area:
• 4 outstanding universities (and research institutes)
• Various technology and science parks
• Range o
For further information:
www.oxford2cambridge.com
bda@bedford.gov.uk
Contact Mark Murphy on 01234 227417
