A new alliance of research-intensive universities has been recently been formed called the Science and Engineering South Consortium (SES-5).  This consortium involves the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Southampton, Imperial College London and University College London. Collectively, the SES-5 have a combined annual research spend of more than £1.3 billion.

The SES-5 will collaborate on research, innovation and training activities, whilst providing efficiencies of scale and shared utilisation of facilities for research in the physical sciences, bio-sciences, and engineering.  Further engagement with industry will be sought. 

Further information is available at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0513/130509-science-and-engineering-south-consortium.