A scheme to bring the worlds of academia and industry together has been launched at the University of Brighton.

Thanks to £500,000 Government backing, three business managers have been appointed by the university to share its knowledge, resources, facilities and talent with regional companies.

At the moment, the emphasis is on health-care and pharmaceuticals, public sector and health management, information technology and new media. But they hope to expand into other industries.

Peter Rock, business development manager at the university, said the scheme was already a success, with a marked rise in the number of businesses approaching the university for the first time.

The three managers operate from within the department which supports university staff working with industry and promotes a range of services available to business, the professions and public service organisations.

Mr Rock said: "The university has a strong emphasis on vocational courses and practical solutions to problem-solving. It has always had contact with business in the commercial and public sector but this initiative enables us to extend that further, giving more companies access to knowledge and expertise."

Services offered include research and consultancy, education and training, access to skilled students and graduates and the opportunity to use specialised facilities.

Mr Rock said: "Many of organisations approach us with a request for one service and, once they've found out about what else we have to offer, they go on to benefit from others.

"Long-standing partnerships with business and public service organisations are an increasingly significant part of our work.

"Organisations can team up with the university to develop training, conduct research of mutual benefit or secure joint funding for research.

"Many research grants require a partner from the business world who can act as an exploitation route and can contribute to the project, either financially or through managerial input.

"By jointly developing new services and products we can work with business on projects with commercial potential while reducing risks and costs for both parties, One of the most valuable things we can offer industry is access to new networks, both academic and industrial in the UK and internationally."