New CIHE report about the impact of research and business collaborations

A new report from the Council for Industry and Higher Education (CIHE) sponsored by Research Councils UK (RCUK) explores how collaborations between university research and business have an impact on the economic and social wellbeing of the UK.

The report “Absorbing Research: The role of university research in business and market innovation” confirms that to get the most out of collaborative projects companies must be able to acquire and absorb research if they will want to achieve successful knowledge exchange. The report recommends that commercial skills should be built into career progression programmes for young researchers, helping them work more effectively with business.

The report recommendations are aligned with RCUK’s continued support of excellent research that attracts business and industry from around the world and encourages collaborations between these companies and UK academic institutions.

Dr David Docherty, Chief Executive of CIHE said: “Companies and universities need a shared understanding of how research can contribute to economic growth. Businesses recognise that university researchers can generate novel ideas and think at ‘right angles’ to their own R&D staff. University research has a distinctive contribution to make in creating value through supporting company innovation processes.”

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Further information

Contact:
Jane Wakefield
RCUK Press and Communications Manager
Tel: 01793 444592

Notes for editors

1. The report is based on findings from 22 company case studies and a full copy can be found at: http://www.cihe.co.uk
   
   
2. The Council for Industry and Higher Education (CIHE) is a strategic leadership network of senior business leaders and Vice Chancellors working together to enhance economic competitiveness and social cohesion. The CIHE’s strategic leadership network focuses specifically on where businesses and universities can combine to help resolve some of the most intractable challenges we face on climate change, new energy sources, the future of engineering and life-sciences, the digital and creative economies and financial services. CIHE has recently launched two strategic task forces to explore where businesses and universities can better work together on relevant research and on creating the right jobs for the right graduates. The task forces are to focus on the areas of engineering and manufacturing, and the digital and creative industries. More information can be found at http://www.cihe.co.uk
   
   
3. Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils. We invest annually around £3 billion in research. Our focus is on excellence with impact. We nurture the highest quality research, as judged by international peer review providing the UK with a competitive advantage. Global research requires we sustain a diversity of funding approaches, fostering international collaborations, and providing access to the best facilities and infrastructure, and locating skilled researchers in stimulating environments. Our research achieves impact – the demonstrable contribution to society and the economy made by knowledge and skilled people. To deliver impact, researchers and businesses need to engage and collaborate with the public, business, government and the third sector. www.rcuk.ac.uk
   
   

   The seven UK Research Councils are:

   • Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC);
   • Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC);
   • Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC);
   • Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);
   • Medical Research Council (MRC);
   • Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);
   • Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC).