Minister for Universities, Science and Cities visits University of Exeter

Mr Clark, making his first visit to a university since becoming Universities Minister, went to the Innovation Centre on the Streatham Campus, on Wednesday 8 October.

As part of the visit, he was shown around an ‘exhibition of entrepreneurs’ – which featured key researchers from the University, and developed businesses supported by the Innovation Centre.

Amongst the businesses who presented their work to the Minister were Tickbox, a website designed to help UK voters access information about electoral candidates in an easy to understand and engaging way.

Mr Clark also met representatives from CrowdCube, a leading crowdfunding project  that enables businesses to raise finance from 'the crowd', meaning large amounts of funding can come from a series of small individual investments.

Speaking after the event, Mr Clark said: "One of the most exciting parts of being Minister for Universities is getting out on the road to visit leading institutes like the University of Exeter, which has just again been listed in the Times Higher Education's Top 200 universities in the world."

Mr Clark’s visit came after he visited the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall, to join up with council and business leaders from across Cornwall to sign the £198.9million Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Deal. The deal secures £48.9m of government funding, as well as a further £150m of additional investment from local partners and the private sector. The official signing ceremony took place at the University’s Environment and Sustainability Institute in Cornwall.

Mr Clark also visited the Exeter Science Park to sign the £270.3 million Heart of the South West Growth Deal. The deal will bring investment in skills and science parks across the region, such as the one in Exeter, which will help start and grow dynamic businesses in sectors including environmental science and marine renewables.

Mr Clark added: "Exeter is a perfect example of how universities and cities can work together to drive forward development and growth, particularly around research and innovation. The Growth Deals offered by this Government supports such relationships to make the most of these opportunities both locally and nationally."