University of Miami Partners With Cardiff University, UK for International Research Alliance

Business Wire, July 24, 2002

Business and Education Editors

CORAL GABLES, Fla. and CARDIFF, United Kingdom--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2002--Invest-UK

"The U.S. and the EU should think collaboratively about some of the

key scientific and technological challenges we face ... genetics and

biotech will transform our lives yet again..."

British Prime Minister Tony Blair(1)

Invest-UK, the British Government's worldwide economic development agency, announced today that the University of Miami, College of Engineering, has signed a strategic alliance with Cardiff University, one of Britain's leading research and teaching universities.

The international collaboration will include joint research on engineering and information technology projects, joint grants, research faculty exchanges and student exchanges.

The signing of the alliance took place in London on July 24 as part of a Florida trade mission to the UK led by Governor Jeb Bush. 'Enterprise Florida, Inc.', the State of Florida's official economic development

organization, also has been instrumental in organizing this strategic alliance between the two universities.

"The strategic alliance between these two outstanding universities will go far beyond research and development," said Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who chairs Enterprise Florida. "This partnership will provide a critical boost to local industries such as biomedical research, information technology and aerospace. Further, the university-led joint research projects will produce new companies and spin-offs, resulting in additional high-value jobs both in Florida and the U.K."

Lord Sainsbury, UK Minister of Science and Technology, announced in Texas on June 13, 2002 another academic partnership with the UK led by Rice University in Houston and Imperial College in London, saying, "I see great scope for collaboration between our two countries. The UK has an excellent track record in scientific discovery. We are justly proud of our basic research, whether it's the performance of our most eminent scientists -- reflected in the list of Nobel laureates, 44 in the last 50 years -- or that UK researchers are amongst the most prolific in the world, producing 16 research papers per $1 million of research funding. This and other collaborations reflect the UK Government's commitment to working together with our global partners on the key scientific and technical challenges we face."

"We are thrilled that the University of Miami's College of Engineering and Cardiff University have found a strategic fit," said Ian Stewart, Vice-Consul for Invest-UK. "It's our aim at Invest-UK to promote British excellence overseas and foster relationships with American businesses and academic institutions. We look forward to welcoming Cardiff University to the US again in November at Comdex, one of the largest technology trade shows in the world, where Invest-UK will host the university as part of UK@Comdex."

"This is an exciting venture with educational and economic impact," said Dr. M. Lewis Temares, Dean of the College of Engineering and Vice President for Information Technology at the University of Miami. "Students, faculty and entrepreneurs can benefit from the studies and research accomplished by these great universities. Shared experiences and research can result in the creation of new businesses in engineering related fields."

"As one of the leading research-led universities in the United Kingdom, Cardiff University enthusiastically welcomes the University of Miami as a global partner in pursuit of research and scholarship of the highest quality," said Professor John King, Pro Vice Chancellor at Cardiff University. "We have no doubt that by working together we shall be able to make significant contributions to the cultural and economic well-being of the State of Florida, the Principality of Wales and the wider world, and we look forward to this partnership with confidence and enthusiasm."

Cardiff is the capital city of Wales, a major destination for U.S. investment. American companies realized Wales' potential as a strategic base for operation in Europe as far back as the '50s. Since then there has been a steady stream of American enterprises locating major operations in Wales.

WalesTrade International was critical in forging the relationship between the two universities, along with Invest-UK and Enterprise Florida.

As part of the faculty exchange and cooperation that will result from this alliance, Cardiff University and UM plan to write joint proposals to international funding agencies for research dollars, which not only will improve research initiatives, but also will increase the economic impact on their respective communities. With a budget of about $ 1.1 billion, UM has a substantial positive economic impact on Miami-Dade County. Cardiff University has a similar impact on the city of Cardiff.

Students at UM and Cardiff will receive international educational experience through study abroad programs, international internships, and student exchange programs between the United States and the United Kingdom.