The success of the Bradford University spin-off company Bradford Particle Design (BPD) once again gives the city a pioneering role in the field of education, this time in developing a more commercial future for universities.

BPD was set up in 1995 to help global pharmaceutical companies come up with better-quality drugs to improve the health of the world's population. The company now has a £1.5 million turn-over and employs nearly 40 people.

That is quite a success story to tell to Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers when he comes to Bradford tomorrow to open the company's new £1 million manufacturing plant on the Listerhills Science Park.

It also sets an excellent example for other departments and universities to follow. There is nothing new about universities selling their expertise. However, the idea of setting up commercial companies which can plough their profits back into the university is encouraging.

There is nothing wrong with the principle of universities using their expertise to create money which can be put back into education. In fact, it would be splendid if this could eventually lead to education becoming self-funding, or if university spin-off companies were able to plough their profits into an increased number of bursaries so that young people from less well-off backgrounds could pursue further education without worrying about running up large debts.

That, perhaps, is too much to hope for. But the success of BPD could well help to further put Bradford on the map and make its university an even more attractive choice for future students.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.