The incoming chairman of the University of London’s Institute of Cancer Research (IRC) has called for universities to allow their researchers to get rich in order to boost commercialisation.
Luke Johnson (pictured), a restaurant entrepreneur and former chairman of UK-based television station Channel 4, took up the unpaid role with the IRC with the specific purpose of boosting its fundraising and commercialisation efforts.
He said that although commercialisation and entrepreneurial efforts were on the increase at UK universities, much more could be done. He suggested universities hiring staff with experience industry or entrepreneurship to inspire students and encourage commercialisation, and also recruiting the same sort of individuals to governing boards.
Speaking with news provider Times Higher Education, Johnson said: “Universities have got to be a bit more willing to let some of their researchers get rich, because, otherwise, the risk is [that] they will break away. At the end of the day you can’t deny the profit motive among individuals.”
