Scottish universities and colleges have a significant impact on their country's economy and are relatively competitive in winning lucrative research contracts compared with other institutions in the UK, writes Tony Tysome.
So concludes a report on Economic Aspects of Scottish Higher Education Institutions, published today.
The report, commissioned by the Committee of Scottish Higher Education Principals, examines the position of Scottish institutions in 1996-97.
It shows that in 1996-97 the Scottish higher education sector earned Pounds 1.33 billion - making it roughly the same size as the Scottish computer services sector.
This represented nearly 12 per cent of the total income for the UK higher education sector that year, and about 2 per cent of the total economic activity in Scotland.
Total research income was about Pounds 215 million.