TEA & CRUMPETS or CABERNET & CHOCOLATES? 

Apparently tea and crumpets and foggy weather are not enough to keep the British from
doing a little California Day Dreaming.  In a recent article from a UK newspaper some British
are bemoaning their economic future, illustrating that others will shadow the once great empire.

       An interesting fact about the economic impact of Silicon Valley. While Britain’s
      share of the global economy is set to fall over the next 20 years as countries
      like China and India grow, California’s share is actually set to rise.

     George Osborne, the shadow chancellor, shared this juicy nugget with an
     audience at the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (Nesta)
     on Tuesday evening that had gathered to discuss what Britain can learn from
     the way Silicon Valley operates.

     Osborne highlighted the role played by Stanford University - he said there 
     were 2,000 companies set up by recent Stanford graduates in the surrounding
     area. This active network of alumni works closely with the university and, along
     with big business, contributes significant amounts to its research projects.

     In contrast, Osborne said British universities collect only 5pc of their income
     from industrial    partners. There are many factors that influence Britain’s ability
     to generate the sort of economic  activity witnessed in California - but is the lack
     of university/business collaboration the key one?

A recent article in the Boston Globe may shed some light on this subject.  Harvard unlike its
Cambridge counterpart MIT has not made aggressive engagements with business and industry
like its Cambridge counterpart M.I.T.  The two universities seem decades apart regarding their
philosophy related to engaging and working with business and industry related to technology
transfer activities.  Hence the concern by Boston's leadership for the loss to California in so many
technologies.

On the left side of America, California's public univeristies have historically been at the forefront of working
with busines and industry and see it has a key component in advancing academics, enhancing the academic
endowments and acquiring revenue while building prestige and strong economies.  Such examples exist with
UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco, Stanford and San Jose State in the areas of high tech, bio tech and now
autonomous 'robotics' technology. 

We all bemoan our environmental conditions, its only human nature, but  in California it's a lot easier  to do
with a good glass of cabernet, some chocolate while basking in the sun. 

Maybe that is the reason why Britain's Prince Andrew was in the Golden State last week. While it was identified
that he was here to to cut a ribbon at the opening of Britain's TESCO's new grocery store chain, Fresh and Easy
in southern California and at BP America to learn about its embracing green technologies, we think differently.
Rumors have it that the Prince is a major fan of the state and just wanted to bask in the sun of the Golden State. 
Can you blame him?

Tim Johnson
www.CaliforniaBusinessMinute.com