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Philip Ruffles, director of engineering and technology at Rolls-Royce plc, this week called on the government to increase its support for applied research in British universities to help boost innovation. At a Royal Academy of Engineering seminar on R&D for industry, Mr Ruffles said applied research represents less than half of all research conducted in academia, and only a fraction of it involves industry via co-funding arrangements. As a result much of it lacks focus and misses marketing opportunities, he said.