Business Talks: The University of Portsmouth signs new partnership with Hampshire Chamber of Commerce
The University of Portsmouth has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce.
The MoU covers areas of mutual interest and will see both organisations working together to drive research, innovation and collaboration within the region, and working together on events to support the local business community.
Professor Homagni Choudhury, Head of the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance at the University of Portsmouth, said: “The signing of this new MoU marks a significant step towards strengthening the strategic partnership between the University and the Chamber in supporting the local community and businesses.
“We are delighted to pave the way for this new academia-industry collaboration in the South-East region, which supports the University's commitment towards civic engagement in enriching the regional economic, social and cultural life. We look forward to working together with the Chamber in forging a shared path towards innovation and knowledge exchange and in translating our academic expertise and industry knowledge to benefit the regional economy.”
Ross McNally, CEO and Executive Chair of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, added: “This represents a powerful coming together of the shared values of the University and Chamber, building on our civic and economic commitments to the City and the wider region. Through a programme of activities and enhanced engagements, together we will help facilitate and embed new insights and knowledge benefiting the City’s economy and broad communities.”
University to host prestigious finance conference
The University's Macroeconomics Research Group from the School of Accounting, Economics, and Finance will host the UK's most significant and long-standing macro conference – the 54th Annual Conference of the Money, Macro and Finance Society on 6-8 September 2023. This is the main UK conference in macroeconomics and has a long-standing tradition among both academics and policy makers.
Amidst the backdrop of soaring inflation and interest rates, heightened international tensions, and prevailing uncertainty, the upcoming conference is a vital forum for scholars and practitioners alike. This gathering provides a crucial platform to deliberate on the most pressing economic issues of our time.
The conference has an impressive lineup of keynote speakers, including Carmen Reinhart from Harvard Kennedy School, David Miles from Imperial College London and the Office for Budget Responsibility, Antonella Trigari from Bocconi University, and Lawrence Christiano from Northwestern University.
In addition to the captivating keynote addresses, there will be a trio of special sessions that delve into specific economic issues, led by the Bank of England, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, and the Resolution Foundation and Centre for Economic Performance.
Dr Eun Young (EY) Oh, Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer) in Economics and Finance at the University and chair of the local organising committee, said: “The 54th Annual Conference of the Money, Macro and Finance Society is set to be a vibrant hub of intellectual exchange, bridging academia and economic policy. With the University of Portsmouth leading this prestigious event, our commitment to knowledge dissemination for a more informed economy stands reaffirmed.
“By bringing together scholars, policymakers, and experts, we bridge the gap between theory and practice, enriching our collective comprehension of the complex economic landscape. Together, we stride toward shaping a future marked by informed policies and sustainable growth.”
For more information, please download the full programme via the conference website or contact the local organising programme committee team at [email protected]
Chance to win £25,000 funding
The Santander X UK Awards 2023 are now open for applications with local start-ups and University-linked businesses having the chance of taking home one of 12 cash prizes of up to £25,000. This year’s competition has two categories: University, which is for university-linked new businesses looking to launch, and Startup, which targets growing businesses ready to scale up.
In previous years, the competition has only been open for university entrepreneurs, but this year applications in the Startup category have been extended to include all UK businesses. One hundred businesses will be shortlisted by 20 October.
These businesses will join a two-day business bootcamp with expert-led sessions, networking, and pitch support. Following the boot camp, all 100 candidates will pitch their business during Global Entrepreneurship Week (November 13-17), where 12 finalists will be selected. The finalists will then pitch live at the National Final in London in December to a high-profile panel of judges, including Mike Regnier, Santander UK Chief Executive, and William Vereker, Santander UK Chairman.
There will be six winners overall (three per category), who will win up to £25,000 in funding and automatically progress to the Santander X Global Award, the bank’s international entrepreneurship competition where they will have the opportunity to compete against the best early-stage startups from across Europe and Latin America in Spring 2024.
For more information and how to apply please visit santanderx.com