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BAE Systems offers a useful perspective on the different ways in which universities in general, and The University of Manchester in particular, contribute to the innovation environment. Academics from UMIST and Manchester had supported a technology strategy forum for senior industrialists in the region. This built links with a number of major companies, including BAE Systems. One of the projects which illustrate this was the technology demonstrator project FLAVIIR. FLAVIIR was a multi-university collaboration funded by BAE Systems and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to develop technologies for a maintenance-free, low cost Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ('UAV') without conventional control surfaces and without performance penalty over conventional craft. FLAVIIR is a great example of companies identifying future challenges and universities responding with identifying research responses – the importance of industry and university co-habitation. The University has the key role of using flow control (deviation of the aerodynamic flow) to achieve the aerodynamic control effect. BAE Systems has also given lecture series for the University, which demonstrated how aerodynamic theory taught in universities can be applied in industry, including the relationship with structural engineering so that students can understand how the disciplines interacted in calculating the loads on airframes. This has led to greater engagement and recruitment of its students into the company. In the specific case of FLAVIIR, two of the three PhD students funded through the collaboration went on to work for BAE Systems. The company also has other CASE awards with the University. The University is also involved in the GAMMA programme alongside BAE Systems, which leverages off universities' greater ability to work at lower TRL levels 1 and then mentors small companies to bring them 'up to speed' in these levels. GAMMA is a three-year Unmanned Autonomous Systems (UAS) SME-support BAE Systems BAE Systems Strength of research has helped the north west remain the centre of UK aerospace industry 24 CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP