The aim of this SPN is to facilitate collective engagement between NW Higher Education Institutions on current and emerging areas of interest in relation to the research and enterprise agenda, both at a regional and a national level. The group focuses on research policy in relation to institutions, researchers and industry; and wider business-university interactions, including maintaining a broad overview of strategic issues in relation to HE's 'third stream' agenda.
It encompasses areas such as enterprise and commercialisation activities, engagement with businesses and the wider community,and knowledge transfer and innovation. There are any number of issues it covers but current ones could include HEIF and HEIF type activity, European funding, business support simplification, graduate entrepreneurship, IP issues, and impact.