Collaboration in the capital

42 institutions are pooling their considerable resources. Chris Johnston reports

* WestFocus is a consortium set up to provide an innovation network to support high-tech and knowledge-based businesses in West London.

* Kingston University led a collaborative bid that involved Brunel, Royal Holloway, Thames Valley and Westminster universities, Roehampton University of Surrey and St George's Hospital Medical School. It was awarded £10.6 million in the second round of the Higher Education Innovation Fund announced this year.

The bid was the second highest awarded. The London and Southeast development agencies also help fund WestFocus.

* Middlesex University and University College London jointly purchased the Archway campus and Whittington hospital site, which is managed in collaboration with the Royal Free Hospital. The shared facilities include a multidisciplinary centre for nursing and medical education. Clinical practice and a range of academic programmes, some provided jointly, are offered.

* Simfonec is a Science Enterprise Centre set up to encourage the transfer of science and technology innovation from the academic world to the business sector and support business start-ups.

It involves City University, King's College London, Queen Mary University of London and the Royal Veterinary College. It brings together innovation and entrepreneurship experts and allows academics and technology professionals to exchange best practice.

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