Today's news

Dolly scientist wins human cloning research licence
The scientist who created Dolly the sheep said yesterday that he hoped a licence he had been granted to clone human embryos for research into motor neurone disease would pave the way for researchers to take an "invaluable shortcut" in tackling a range of diseases. Ian Wilmut was yesterday granted only the second licence in the UK to clone human embryos for medical research since cloning was legalised in 2001.
The Guardian, Daily Telegraph

Fewer firms spun off but patents rise
The number of spin-off firms set up by universities has fallen, according to a survey by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, although revenue from existing companies remained the same. The government is trying to increase British universities' commercial activities, but the study found that 177 spin-offs were formed in 2002/03 - 22 fewer than the year before.
The Guardian

Universities alerted to money-laundering risk from foreign fees
Universities could fall foul of new money-laundering rules because of their increasing reliance on high tuition fees paid by foreign students, accountants warned today. The caution from the fraud department of KPMG, the professional services firm, comes as higher education institutions try to attract more students from outside the European Union.
The Financial Times

The fertile soil of Silicon Fen
Nearly a year after its market debut, Cambridge Silicon Radio, Cambridge's latest star technology company, is still shining brightly, with exponential growth figures and a market capitalisation of £456 million - 50 per cent higher than on float. The company's float on the London Stock Exchange last February was a psychologically important event for Cambridge, breaking the initial public offering drought that followed the bursting of the technology bubble and reassuring investors that the "Cambridge phenomenon" is still working.
The Financial Times

£100m stem cell target
Sir Richard Branson is to lead a campaign to raise £100 million to fund stem-cell research in Britain. The founder of Virgin has agreed to become a trustee of an initiative started by the biotechnology entrepreneur Sir Christopher Evans to ensure that Britain retains its leading position in stem-cell science.
The Times

"Dump the 50% goal"
For many young people, universities are not the best place to prepare for life at work, business leaders will tell Blair. Business leaders are meeting Tony Blair this week to urge him to ditch Labour's target of getting 50 per cent of young people into university, because they say it is damaging to the economy. Instead of doing A levels, more teenagers should be following a work-based learning route that would often involve going to a college, according to the British Chambers of Commerce.
The Guardian

Letter
Regarding the value of the HNC.
The Times