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Inventive Boris labels Brunel most innovative in London

Brunel Means Business

Thanks to Brunel, London is the home of innovation, Boris Johnson MP told a room of company bosses at last night's Brunel Means Business event.

Having earlier in the day shocked political commentators by choosing not to run for Tory leadership, Mr Johnson used the occasion to honour the university's contribution to the capital, and the country, on its 50th anniversary.

"There's a fantastic sense of bubbling invention here at Brunel," said Mr Johnson, MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, before adding that the university has shown itself to be the "most intellectually fertile in London".

The former Mayor of London was keynote speaker at the Brunel University London event at the capital's Savoy Place. More than 300 business leaders attended the dinner, which was held to celebrate the university's many successful ties with the business community in the past 50 years.

Choosing not to speak about his headline-grabbing role in driving British people to vote to leave the European Union in last week's referendum, Mr Johnson instead focused on Brunel's bright future.

Saying the institution was a vital part of its community, he told the room that successful partnerships should continue to be at the heart of everything it does.

In his own inimitable style, the larger than life MP then claimed the lightsaber, made famous by the Star Wars film franchise, was invented in Uxbridge, something he described as being indicative of the "benign intellectual contamination" Brunel had brought to the region.

Wishing the university the best, he added: "You're the same age as David Cameron. You're also the same age as Mike Tyson and may you continue to punch your weight far into the future. Happy 50th birthday Brunel."

Professor Julia Buckingham, Vice-Chancellor and President of Brunel University London told attendees that only through continued close cooperation with business could Brunel make the most of the opportunities coming its way.

"The university has established a reputation for the quality and quantity of its engagement with business and I am confident that our founders would be greatly impressed with everything we've achieved," she said.

"There can be no doubt, however, that as we proudly bring an end to Brunel’s first 50 years; and to the terrific achievements of all our staff and students up to this point; we must also look forward. There are new challenges ahead and only through our enterprise, relevance and collaborative endeavour can we truly embrace our future."

To find out more about all the events the university has planned to celebrate its 50th, visit www.brunel.ac.uk/fifty.