Think Tank: Companies must use universities to stay ahead in R&D/ece_article_0.15970050734243357> Nottingham's advanced technology, developed by PhD students and scientists, was soon put into action, resulting in good plane parts being removed and sold, with many materials recycled. Sir Roger says he has "open arms" to any university team in Britain thinking they've cracked the next big innovation in manufacturing - from recycling planes to how to build a aeroplane in the first place. He believes Britain's supply chain has been so starved of investment and ideas over the past decade that it's now on a slippery slope and, in many ways, "the UK supply chain is getting worse." World Bank statistics reveal that the UK has invested less than 2pc of GDP in research and development since 2000, far less than advanced economies in Europe and the US. The UK has dropped significantly on world competitive indexes as a result and it's left the British arms of companies such as Boeing little choice but to seek out alternative strategies if they are to stay ahead globally in R&D. Collaborating with British universities - picking the brightest to work on the most advanced industry techniques to improve efficiency and costs - seems to be a good way forward. It's not all plain sailing, though. Sir Roger says that nine out of every 10 university-developed ideas aren't right for his company. "But we're always open to universities grabbing us and showing us what they've got," he says. We'll always come up and look to see if we can work together. Since 2011, Boeing has invested $1m (£620m) a year in a "strategic research collaboration" with Nottingham. Dr Stephen Pickering, associate professor in mechanical engineering at Nottingham, who led the carbon fibre project with Boeing, says many companies the university works with hire their graduates for their skills developed during their studies. "We particularly value the links that we have with industry," he says. Too often, British companies can get caught up in short-termism when it comes to investment. Boeing's tie-up with Nottingham is just one example of how it's trying to inspire the next generation of engineers - another project earlier this year invited schools to build and fly their own plane. Yateley School in Hampshire won the challenge, with students praising "the fantastic learning experience" and introduction to the world of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), in which they now hope to work one day. More manufacturing companies should follow Boeing's example, working with schools and universities to tap into the best talent. Dods, a parliamentary research group, said recently: "Government and private sector projects can often act in isolation from universities. If the UK is going to lead the world in R&D investment, they must work together. The key is to think big and differently about how to get R&D back on top - even if that involves 86ft catamarans.