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N8 Universities help existing businesses
through research partnerships and
consultancy with industry – delivering ideas
and insights, and co-producing research.
We held 5,608 research contracts with
business and non-commercial organisations
(17% of UK total) in 2014.
Reflecting the particularly high priority we place on knowledge
exchange, N8 universities undertook 32% of all UK HE
consultancies with business and non-commercial organisations
(in total, 31,104 contracts) in the UK in 2014/15.
This is not limited to large multinational organisations, as 17,389
of these relationships were with small and medium-sized
businesses (SMEs).
For example:
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University of Manchester worked with Perceptive
Engineering to develop a ‘next generation’ industrial control
package affording the opportunity for engaging its existing
products in several new industrial sectors, resulting in sales
turnover increasing by over £400k and employment of three
new staff.
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In response to BOCM Pauls' need to enhance staff
development, University of Liverpool’s Veterinary School
devised two highly participative training courses. Through
access to cutting-edge research and interaction with
consumers of their products in a learning environment the
programme led to an increase in sales of 80%.
N8 universities also partner with not-for-profit organisations,
public sector, and charities. We hold 12,411 consultancy
contracts with non-commercial organisations - a remarkable
45% of all such non-commercial organisation consultancy
in the UK.
EU Structural Funding schemes are, currently, helping to
support Northern universities to engage with companies to
provide services and expertise. Currently N8 universities
have 32 schemes supporting engagement with over
4,300 businesses.
consultancies with business and
non-commercial organisations
31,104
17,389
of these relationships were
with small and medium-sized
businesses (SMEs)
consultancy contracts
with non-commercial
organisations
12,411
45%
of all such non-commercial
organisation consultancy
in the UK
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