University continues to be national leader in knowledge exchange
18 Sep 2024
The University of Manchester has achieved the highest possible score for its work with intellectual property and commercialisation, research partnerships and public and community engagement in the latest Knowledge Exchange Framework rating by Research England.
The KEF provides information about the broad ranging knowledge exchange activities of English HE Providers, such as the way universities work with external partners, from businesses to community groups, for the benefit of the economy and society.
The University of Manchester supports the full range of knowledge exchange activities through public engagement, supporting businesses and commercialising research towards next generation technologies. Students, staff, partners and local communities all play a key role in ensuring that the University makes a positive societal and economic impact.
The KEF allows universities to better understand their own performance and fosters a culture of continuous improvement. HE Providers are placed into a cluster of peers, grouping together universities of similar types, with The University of Manchester placed in a group of 18 large, research-intensive universities including Oxford and Imperial.
Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor, said: “This is a really important measure of our progress towards our goals in knowledge exchange. Through spinouts, engaging with our communities, training and other activity we help to develop the city we live in and provide good jobs for our community. We know there is more we can do to support our staff, students and partners to make the most of these opportunities, but the latest assessment shows we are starting from a strong base.”
Manchester’s performance in continuous professional development and Graduate Startups, which is supported by the work of the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre and Executive Education at Alliance Manchester Business School, received an enhanced rating of high engagement in KEF4, and Manchester now sits above the cluster group average.
Manchester also continues to receive the highest rating for Research Partnerships, where the University is placed above the cluster group average. This recognises the work of the University’s Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange team.
The excellent performance of the University’s Innovation Factory in licensing, IP income, investment and turnover of spinouts continues to be recognised with the highest rating in IP and Commercialisation.
The University also received the highest rating for Public Engagement, and includes our achievements in volunteering, festivals, citizen science, and engagement with communities through our cultural institutions, Jodrell Bank, John Rylands Research Institute and Library, Manchester Museum, and the Whitworth Art Gallery.
Professor Luke Georghiou, Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, said: “Knowledge exchange is a core priority for The University of Manchester. We shall continue to ensure that our research, teaching and social responsibility activities benefit the economy and society at local, national and global levels.”
You can view each university’s performances on the KEF dashboards.