Maintaining Excellence and Global Competitiveness. Held at Jury's Great Russell Street Hotel, London

Future developments of research in the UK are dominating the debate in higher education. Research excellence is a vital factor for the UK economy and the competitiveness of UK higher education and research on a global scale. This high profile conference for vice-chancellors, senior university directors and managers, research councils, funding bodies, government departments and a range of business representatives gave delegates the opportunity to engage in a debate on the future of research funding, research cooperation and collaboration and the maintenance of research excellence in the UK . Key speakers: John Neilson, Director, Research Base at the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills; Ian Diamond, Chair of the Research Councils UK; and Mike Carr, Chief Science Officer at BT.