Driving Innovation in Higher Education

The Bayes Centre hosted members of HUMANE, the Heads of University Management and Administration Network in Europe, to learn how the University integrates entrepreneurship and innovation into a four-hundred-year-old framework. Discussions addressed the challenges of internal engagement and the importance of prioritising external relationships and collaboration, whilst building on the existing strengths of the University. 

Catherine Martin, Vice-Principal of Corporate Services, welcomed delegates highlighting the University’s Strategy 2030 focus on strengthening relationships both locally and globally, via the key themes of people, research, teaching and learning, and civic responsibility, enabled by the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.  

Ruth King, Thomas Bayes’ Chair of Statistics and Director of the Bayes Centre, outlined the value-added role as an AI and Data Science Innovation Hub within the College of Science and Engineering. Unlike traditional Schools in the College, offering industry co-location; effectively bring external organisations into the University.  

Bayes serves as an enabler of enterprise, supporting and encouraging the development, adoption and commercialisation of innovative research ideas in data science and AI to provide economic and social benefit. To external organisations, Bayes acts as the front door to the University for industry, government and third sector partnerships.

The Bayes Centre runs two of the University’s unique entrepreneurship programmes, the Venture Builder Incubator and AI Accelerator. These programmes have supported founders and companies who have gone on to raise £8.8 million and £76.7 million to date respectively, through grants and investments.  These initiatives enable students, staff and founding companies to develop an entrepreneurial mindset through enterprise education and provide access to both the tech ecosystem in Scotland and nationwide investors. 

Duncan Martin, Director of Entrepreneurship at the Bayes Centre, emphasised the importance of collaboration and efficiencies across institutions in developing an entrepreneurial campus. 

Effective partnerships are critical; they streamline our joint efforts and amplify our impact. Edinburgh Innovations and Old College Capital are key to this, by enhancing our partnerships with industry and coordinating our venture investment activities.

Neil McGillivray, Chief Operating Officer, at Bayes reflected: 

For me it is about celebrating that the Bayes Centre remit is non-traditional and that our role is to add value to the University through fostering industry connections, supporting founders and startups, and creating opportunities for collaboration both internally and externally. Our role is to be creative, innovate and help modernise the University through the opportunities provided by the City Region Deal.