The N8 universities (Durham, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and York) have performed strongly in the latest Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF6), published by Research England on 7 October 2026. The results reflect the range of work the North’s research-intensive universities do with businesses, public bodies, charities and communities.
The KEF, run by Research England as part of UK Research and Innovation, assesses how English universities share knowledge and expertise with external partners, across seven areas (“perspectives”). It does not produce a single institutional ranking but gives a rounded picture of how universities use their knowledge, people and facilities for economic and public benefit. The KEF6 results cover activity from 2022/23 to 2024/25, and Research England reports growth in university knowledge exchange outcomes across the sector. Full results are available on the KEF dashboards.
In KEF6, all eight N8 universities achieved “high” or “very high” engagement in research partnerships, working with business, working with the public and third sector, and IP and commercialisation, placing each in the top two bands nationally for the activities that most directly turn research into economic and societal benefit.
Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, said the results demonstrated the University’s “sustained excellence in working with businesses, public bodies and communities to turn world-leading research and expertise into real-world impact,” in a news story marking the KEF6 results, which points to partnerships including a century-long collaboration with Unilever and work with National Museums Liverpool.
That impact depends on partnership, according to Professor Jane Robinson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Business, Partnerships and Place at Newcastle University. In the University’s announcement of its results, she described how knowledge exchange “takes many forms, from developing new technologies with businesses and collaborating with public services, to supporting new companies and inviting communities to shape and participate in our work”. “The common thread is partnership,” she said, “bringing together the University, businesses, public bodies, charities, investors, entrepreneurs and communities to create impact.”
At the University of Sheffield, Professor Sue Hartley, Vice-President for Research and Innovation, described the exchange of knowledge and expertise as being “at the heart of what we do” in the University’s announcement, which points to strong partnerships ranging from healthcare technology developed with GE HealthCare and Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust to advanced manufacturing and sustainable housebuilding.
Lancaster University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Steve Decent, said the results show the University is “among the best in the UK at using its world-leading research and innovation to engage with partners and improve society” in its announcement, which highlights its cyber security collaborations, including the NW CyberCom project, winner of a Knowledge Exchange UK award.
Dr Colin Tattam, Director of the N8 Research Partnership comments:
“These results show that the North’s research-intensive universities are not simply centres of research excellence, but active partners in growth. Across the N8, knowledge exchange is connecting research, talent and facilities with businesses, public services, communities and civic partners to create economic and societal value.”