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Higher education-business and community interaction survey (HE-BCI)

The annual HE-BCI survey examines the exchange of knowledge between universities and the wider world, and informs the strategic direction of 'third stream' activity that funding bodies and higher education institutions (HEIs) in the UK undertake.

About the survey

The surveys collect financial and output data per academic year. Results are summarised in the annual survey reports which provide information on a range of activities, from the commercialisation of new knowledge, through the delivery of professional training, consultancy and services, to activities intended to have direct social benefits.

These data provide invaluable intelligence for knowledge exchange practitioners and policy makers. The reports also provide an annual in-depth commentary on the extent of and trends in knowledge exchange activity in the UK.

The process is overseen by the HE-BCI Stakeholders group representing the wide spectrum of interested and involved bodies.

The first survey published in 2001 provided data on academic year 1999-2000. The eighth survey for academic year 2007-08 was published this year.

Data reported under 'capacity' and 'infrastructure' are a snapshot of the position at a set date (for 2007-08, 29 January 2009).

Process

The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) has now taken over the annual process of data collection for the survey. This will be collected as part of the Finance Statistics Return (FSR), the main source of financial information on the total activities of all UK HEIs. Returns should be submitted to HESA by 23 December each year.

2007-08 Survey

The eighth survey highlighted that UK HEIs received £2.81 billion from business and community interaction in 2007-08. This is a 6.5 per cent rise from the last survey (for 2006-07).

Table of UK key data from the survey

Indicators from the HE-BCI survey (all UK) Academic year
Income from UK HEIs/ £M (real terms) 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
Collaborative research 496 550 544 599 573 629 687 697 n/a
Contract research n/a n/a n/a 639 666 687 804 835 n/a
Consultancy 124 143 191 233 242 255 296 335 n/a
Equipment services 31 59 76 88 82 95 95 103 n/a
Regeneration n/a n/a 144 239 225 239 272 238 n/a
Continuing professional development n/a n/a n/a 326 408 425 498 537 n/a
Intellectual property income (non-software + software licences) n/a n/a 30 34 39 44 41 45 n/a
Total intellectual property income (including sale of shares) n/a n/a 42 42 61 61 60 66 n/a
Outputs from UK HEIs 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
Patent applications n/a n/a n/a 1,308 1,648 1,536 1,913 1,898 n/a
Patents granted n/a n/a n/a 463 711 577 647 590 n/a
Formal spin-offs established n/a n/a n/a 167 148 187 226 219 n/a
Formal spin-offs still active after three years n/a n/a n/a 688 661 746 844 923 n/a
% UK HEIs that provide: 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
Enquiry point for SMEs 83% 85% n/a n/a 89% 90% 91% 91% 93%
Short bespoke courses on client's premises 63% 67% n/a n/a 78% 80% 84% 83% 88%
Distance learning for businesses 53% 52% n/a n/a 66% 66% 68% 68% 68%
Required contracting system for all consultancy 60% 65% n/a n/a 66% 68% 73% 75% 75%

Previous surveys

Further information

HEFCE has also liaised with other parties active in the field of third stream metrics and indicators. These include:

  • AURIL/UNICO/NUBS (commercialisation survey)
  • AUTM, ProTon Europe, ASTP, EC (international)
  • Russell Group/SPRU (conceptual framework study)
  • CI-HE/Salford University (benchmarking work)
  • SFC (knowledge transfer metrics work)
  • RCUK, especially AHRC (social, civic and cultural indicators).

For more information contact Adrian Day, tel 0117 931 7428, e-mail a.day@hefce.ac.uk.

Last updated 21 July 2009