Science, Technologyand Innovation Studies
at the University ofManchester
Luke Georghiou
Vice-President for Research and Innovation, Universityof Manchester, andProfessor of Science and Technology Policy andManagement in Manchester Institute of Innovation
Research, Manchester Business School

Broad trends for subject in UK• Initial emphasis on science studies and distribution
across several types of University• Over time
– increased focus on innovation and science policy, move awayfrom science studies– entry of more elite Universities (Oxford, Cambridge)– subject now institutionalised mainly in UK’s most researchintensive Universities – Oxbridge, Imperial, UCL, Edinburghand Manchester– also presence of smaller research-focussed universities –Sussex, Lancaster– almost all now located in business schools• High engagement with policymaking

Manchester Pre-History
Date

EventAim

1958-65

Early work on innovation eg Carter& Williams Industry & TechnicalProgressFirst awareness of possibility ofsystematic study

1966Foundation of Department ofLiberal Studies in Science (LSS)

Seeking to produce “rounded”
science graduates also educated inscience studies

1977

PREST (Policy Research inEngineering, Science &Technology) founded as researcharm of LSS

Growing research focus & wish toengage with policy

1990

LSS merged into PREST

Teaching focussed onpostgraduates

1996 2000

Joint applications with former staff
who had moved to UMISTAwarded national Centre (CRIC) &infrastructure grant for new building

20022004

Institutes federate then merge as
Manchester Institute of
Innovation Research (MIoIR)

Benefits of critical mass – UK’s
largest concentration of innovation
researchers

Current context• 2004 saw full merger of Victoria
University of Manchester and UMIST• MIoIR becomes part of merged
Manchester Business School in the newUniversity– Masters and Doctoral Programmes of
PREST and UMIST also mergedManchester Institute of Innovation
Research today• Interdisciplinary approach to Innovation & science
dynamics/policy/management. Mix of investigatordriven, strategic & demand-driven research• Strong commitment to engagement with policy andbusiness• Centre within Manchester Business School but also
recognised at University level– 10 full professors (including 2 part-time) + 3 emeritus– 10 other lecturing staff– 6 senior Research Fellows– 19 other research staff postdoc or higher• Portfolio of 58 current research grants and contracts
worth c. £6 million (¥756,374,258)

Doctoral Programme• Structured path within MBS programme – number 1 inworld in Financial Times business school rankings• Key features– 40 currently registered– Current and recent from 38 countries• (13% UK, 23% EU, 34% Asia, 9% Middle East, 11% America)– 2 supervisors– Fee-paying but many have scholarships– Strong teaching element in first year
– Annual upgrades with clear exit gateway at end of year 1– Involvement in research projects and teaching assistantships

Themes
5%10%

Tech Strategy &Innovation Management
S&T policy/ evaluation

38%Innovation systems &development
Sustainability

13%

Services innovation

13%

Foresight

21%

Key success factors• Rigorous admission procedures• Detailed requirements for monitoring progress andproviding support• Strong collective intellectual life
– Self organised doctoral seminar, Annual School
doctoral conference, Poster day– Membership of EU-SPRI - Summer schools,
Circulation (eg 4 months in another EU lab)
– Expectation of conference presentation &publication in refereed journals

Masters Programme - Innovation
Management and Entrepreneurship• 120 credits taught courses, 60 credits supervised
research dissertation over 11 months• Interdisciplinary and multi-level perspective– Management, economics, and societal
perspectives, firm level and policy level, individualand organisational perspectives• Skills development: research, group working, problem
solving, writing and presenting, working for live
company projects (MBS careers programme)Curriculum• Core– Financial Appraisal and Investment Economics; HighTechnology Entrepreneurship; Innovation Management;
Innovation and the Knowledge Economy; and Research
Methods• Options– Business Creation and Development; Case Studies inTechnology Strategy and Innovation Management;
Developing Enterprising Individuals; Industrial Leadershipand Innovation; Innovation and Market Strategy; New
Entrepreneurial Ventures; Regional, National and Global
Dimensions of Science, Technology and Innovation; ServiceInnovation; Sustainable Innovation Management; and Waterand Sanitation Planning and Policy in Developing Countries

The Students• Multi-disciplinary cohort– science, engineering, technology, social scienceand management– Fresh graduates and post-experience, from allaround the world• All interested in change, all stretching themselves
outside familiar disciplinary boundaries, many want tostart their own venture either now or later• Statistics (2010 cohort)– 556 applications: 84 enrolled– Male : Female: 56% : 44%– Age range: 21 - 50
– No of nationalities: 25

Outcomes – short-term• 95% in employment after 6 months• Average starting salary £28,869 pa(¥3,640,253)• Previous year cohort employment destinations
included:– Consultancies (eg SQW Consulting, PwC, Heywood)– Industry and technology-based international companies (egTechnopolis Group, ICI, Unilever, CSC, Rolls Royce, Arena)
Public sector (agencies, technology transfer) (eg UNIDO, TNO)
– Banks (JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs)– Entrepreneurial start-ups– Further research/academiaOutcomes long-term• Alumni (staff & students) in influential jobs ingovernment, industry, academia etc– 3 Vice-Chancellors, several Directors of major
business schools, Deputy Ministers and DirectorGenerals in ministries, senior corporate positions,at least one FTSE company founded, editorships ofinternational journals, radio, TV– Basis of our own staff

Conclusions• Science, Technology and Innovation Studies strongly
institutionalised in the UK• After 50 years Manchester remains fully committed tothe subject• Concern that student demand shifting locus too muchfrom science policy issues to innovation andentrepreneurship– Mismatch with balance of research project portfolio– We need both
• Economic crisis has taken innovation debate to the
top of the policy agenda as politicians search for newgrowth strategies

Links• Details of MSc– http://www.mbs.ac.uk/programmes/masters/course
s/inno-manage-entrepreneurship/index.aspx• Details of MIoIR– http://research.mbs.ac.uk/innovation/• Manchester merger– Georghiou, L. (2009) Strategy to Join the Elite: Merger andthe 2015 Agenda at the University of Manchester, inMcKelvey, M. and Holmen, M., Learning to Compete inEuropean Universities – from Social Institution to Knowledge
Business, Edward Elgar: Cheltenham, pp48-65