Universities have an important role to play as catalysts of inclusive economic growth in the UK, Imperial's President has said.
Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London, used this year's President's Address to highlight the important contribution that universities can make to the UK Government's mission to grow the UK economy.
President Brady said: "Imperial's founding mission – as I never get tired of saying – is 'to be useful'. It was written into our royal charter of 1907 and it's what drives us today.
"In 2025, 'being useful' in the UK means, more than anything, growing the economy."
"Imperial's founding mission – as I never get tired of saying – is 'to be useful'... In 2025, 'being useful' in the UK means, more than anything, growing the economy." Professor Hugh Brady President of Imperial College London
The UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves vowed last week to go further and faster to kickstart economic growth in the UK, highlighting that Britain is at the forefront of some of the most exciting developments in science and technology with notable strengths in AI and life sciences.
In his address, President Brady noted how the Chancellor's comments echoed those of Harold Wilson, who promised in 1963 to harness the "white heat of technology" to build a new Britain.
The President argued that a similar focus is needed today to seize the opportunity for the UK to become one of the world's great science and tech superpowers.
President Brady said: "The United Kingdom is home to only 0.8% of the world's population but produces 13% of the world's most highly cited papers. I'm proud to say that Imperial, with its unique mix of science, engineering, medicine and business, sits at the very heart of this success story."
President Brady highlighted the potential of the Imperial West Tech Corridor, saying: "The success of our White City Campus has been the inspiration to go further through the creation of the Imperial West Tech Corridor, which connects and leverages world-class innovation assets at Paddington Basin, South Kensington, White City, Silwood Park and Old Oak and Park Royal.
"If we replicate the recent growth of the White City Innovation District across the WestTech Corridor, we will add 150,000 new jobs to London's economy in just five years."
Looking beyond Imperial, he argued that the UK Government's Industrial Strategy could unleash the full potential of universities as catalysts of innovation within regions - taking advantage of existing innovation clusters, including biotech along the Oxford-Cambridge Corridor, quantum computing in Glasgow, and advanced materials in the North West of England.
"Our universities are a gold mine of research, expertise and vibrant ideas. We are well-equipped to face the world's greatest challenges head-on." Professor Hugh Brady President of Imperial College London
He added: "Modern Britain has harnessed the 'white heat' of science. We are a world-leader in AI. We are a world-leader in electronics. We are a world-leader in aerospace and a world-leader in medicine. And that has made us a more prosperous country."
Closing his address, President Brady said: "If there's one thing I want you to take away today, it's just how strong a position the UK is in already.
"There are headwinds facing the sector, of course, but we can navigate them. Our universities are a gold mine of research, expertise and vibrant ideas. We are well-equipped to face the world's greatest challenges head-on.
"Climate change, AI ethics, pandemic resilience - these are questions we have been working on, already, for decades. So I am going to end my address today with an answer to the Chancellor's recent call to go 'further and faster' to 'kickstart' growth.
"My answer to the government is this: we're ready."
Last year, Imperial launched its strategy Science for Humanity, an ambitious vision to maximise the university's potential as a global force for good. The strategy is underpinned by a focus on building and harnessing multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research at unprecedented scale to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic growth.
