TWO universities have been chosen as partners to help lead one of the UK's top science facilities into the future.

The universities of ­Strathclyde and Surrey will enter a new strategic ­partnership with the ­Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the National Physical Laboratory.

Plans include the establishment of a Graduate ­Institute that will train up to 300 high-calibre PhD students, and the creation of regional hubs that will reflect local expertise and business needs.