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Healthy ageing, the internet of things, and commercialisation in the social sciences are the three themes with involvement from Oxford academics. Oxford is leading the programme on healthy ageing, is a partner in the Sheffield University-led internet of things project, and will also participate in the social sciences initiative led by LSE.
The projects are funded via Research England (formerly the Higher Education Funding Council for England) through its Connecting Capability Fund (CCF). This £100m fund supports university collaboration in research commercialisation with the aims of sharing good practice across the higher education sector, forging external technological, industrial and regional partnerships, and helping deliver the government's industrial strategy priorities.
Oxford recently launched its 150th spinout company based on University research. In 2018 alone, six new companies have been formed and more than £150m has been raised in external investment.
Professor Chas Bountra of Oxford's Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine is leading the healthy ageing programme, titled UK SPINE KE and also involving Birmingham and Dundee universities. Announced last autumn in the first wave of CCF awards, the £4.82m project will establish a UK-wide network across universities, businesses and the NHS focused on improving health in old age.