PLUG into the knowledge of the University of York.

That is the plea to businesses in York, North and East Yorkshire from the man who was confirmed today as the human link between the University of York and industry.

Simon Newton has been appointed as the university's director of enterprise and innovation, the man who will use the university's research power to support innovation and economic growth through its Enterprise and Innovation Office.

He said: "The private sector has a record of low investment in research and development, but R & D at the university is high so it makes sense for businesses and the university to get together if they want to create a knowledge-based economy.

"We welcome those approaches from both business and industry both in this region and beyond. The university is planning to grow by about 50 per cent and enterprise activity will be an integral part of that growth in the next decade."

The University of York has spun out 17 new companies in recent years and is part of the Science City York partnership.

Mr Newton has been acting director of enterprise and innovation for a year after leading the University's successful bid for £2.4 million from the Higher Education Innovation Fund. He also wrote the University's

response to the Treasury's Lambert Review on Business-University Collaboration.

His office, based in the Innovation Centre on York Science Park, has recruited a team of business development managers with industry experience in IT and communications, life sciences, health and medicine, chemistry, physical sciences and engineering, creative media arts and heritage.

They will work with researchers to foster strong collaborations with industry and professions in all these sectors. Mr Newton is also chairman of York-based Knowledge Base UK Ltd (in which the University of York is a shareholder) delivering e-learning to businesses and communities regionally, nationally and overseas. He has helped to reshape the board and triple turnover in 18 months to more than £12 million.

He said: "I believe the university is well positioned to really make an impact in its relationships with industry and the public sector. Engaging with business and the community is now a core activity for UK universities alongside research and teaching. The Enterprise and Innovation Office will be creating new enterprises and forging new strategic partnerships with industry and policy makers to create further

value from our world class research."

Updated: 10:48 Tuesday, June 14, 2005