Sector specialisms and partnerships

The University of Liverpool’s works closely with a range of commercial and industrial partners to facilitate cutting-edge research meeting practical application.

The University has long-running collaborative relationships with industry giants such as Unilever and BEA Systems, cemented with joint-built facilities such as the Materials Innovation Factory (MIF) and the Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC), complemented with a wide range of project-based relationships working with a range of enterprises from multi-nationals to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Research	Impact
Injectable drugs for treatment Providing better treatment options for chronic diseases with long-acting, easy-to-administer drugs, improving patient compliance. The University’s Centre of Excellence for Long-acting Therapeutics (CELT) has developed an injectable implant composed of responsive polymer and drug nanoparticles. This implant provides a controlled, long-acting release of medication, which improves treatment adherence for chronic disease patients. Once the drug is released, the materials degrade safely, leaving no toxic residue in the body. This innovation represents a significant advance in drug delivery systems.	Enhanced treatment Improves patient compliance and reduces frequent dosing.
A century of innovation: Shaping the future with Unilever The University of Liverpool’s long-standing partnership with Unilever, dating back to 1917, has driven significant advancements in product development. Our Materials Innovation Factory (MIF) is a world-class facility launched in 2017, hosting over 200 Unilever R&D staff, focused on materials chemistry. It has made a tangible impact by supporting Unilever’s product sales by over €500 million annually since 2018. Investments in cutting-edge technology have led to innovations including Dove’s Fibre Repair Active technology and Hourglass’s Vegan Confession Red Zero Lipstick, enhancing both performance and sustainability.	Revolutionising markets The University’s collaborations with Unilever are transforming the global chemical supply chain towards Net Zero by 2050.
Digital car production Accelerating the production process in the automotive industry, leading to quicker product development and job creation. The University’s Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC) collaborated with Bentley Motors and local SMEs to develop new digital tools for the automotive industry. By sharing engineering data and working closely on Bentley’s flagship model, the Mulsanne, the VEC helped create a framework that significantly reduces product development time. This collaboration not only streamlined Bentley’s processes but also led to the creation of highly skilled roles to support the ongoing digitalisation of their manufacturing processes.	Economic growth Speeds up production and creates new jobs.
Biofilm Addressing global challenges such as antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and water security. The University of Liverpool, a key partner in the National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC), is at the forefront of pioneering medical innovations. The NBIC has a network of over 260 companies, working collaboratively with. Liverpool researchers have led research projects that included developing self-cleaning surfaces for surgical tools with Genoca Ltd, and cool plasma technology for wound dressing with 5D Health Protection Group Ltd. With this work, the University is addressing critical health challenges, enhancing infection prevention and wound healing in medical settings.	Improved safety Advances strategies for managing resistance and ensuring safety. Net Zero by 2050.
Understanding markets Improving public services, travel policies, and arts promotion through advanced the classification of people. The University’s Geographic Data Science Lab (GDSL) applied cutting-edge machine learning techniques to create detailed and reproducible geodemographic classifications from large spatial datasets. These classifications are being used by organisations such as Hull City Council, Transport for London, and the Office for National Statistics to improve service delivery, develop sustainable travel policies, and support cultural initiatives. The classifications are also utilised by private companies, including CARTO, to enhance user experiences on their platforms.	Informed decision-making Enhances public services and policy.
Protecting our pets Enhancing the health and safety of pets by monitoring disease outbreaks and improving vaccination rates. The University developed SAVSNET, the world’s first comprehensive active surveillance system for pets. SAVSNET collects and analyses electronic health records from UK veterinary practices and diagnostic labs, providing critical data to detect outbreaks, improve vaccination coverage, and influence antimicrobial practices. This research is instrumental in shaping national policies for animal health.	Better pet health Improves disease management and vaccination rates.
Aircraft safety and costs Making air travel safer and more affordable by reducing development time and costs for aircraft structures. The University has pioneered technology that integrates physical tests with advanced simulations, enabling more accurate predictions and reducing the need for extensive physical testing. This has led to a 30% reduction in aircraft development time, and cost savings of £10 million per cycle. Their methodologies are now being incorporated into international airframe manufacturing standards by leading aerospace companies such as Airbus, Boeing, and Bombardier.	Cost savings and efficiency Reduces development time and costs.
Researching the past Allowing people to explore and understand historical criminal records, influencing public perceptions of criminality. The University created the Digital Panopticon, a powerful online resource that links together over 50 digitised datasets, offering access to the most complete records of 90,000 convicts tried at the Old Bailey between 1670 and 1925. The platform supports research for family historians, educators, and students, and has been pivotal in changing public understanding of criminality in the UK, Australia, and the US. The project has also led to exhibitions, public talks, and media features that disseminate these findings widely.	Historical insight Enhances understanding of historical criminal justice.
Advancing medicine development The University of Liverpool is a lead of the £8.2 million Medical Research Council (MRC) funded medicines carer development partnership, with academic and industry bodies that include Queen Mary University London, The University of Glasgow, the University of Manchester, GSK and AstraZeneca. The MRC Medicines Development Fellowship Programme will strengthen interactions between academia and industry to deliver world-class medicines development. It will support four pre-doctoral Fellows and the development of four new, five-year Clinician Scientist Fellowships. The programme is co-funded and supported by two major pharmaceutical companies, GSK and AstraZeneca, in addition to Optum and Hammersmith Medicines Research, the UK’s largest clinical research organisation for early clinical trials. It will cover several disease areas as core themes, including infection and inflammation, cardiac, and respiratory disease. These align with key strengths of the four Universities, such as experimental medicine, artificial intelligence and data science, and product development areas for industry partners, ecology and neuropsychiatry.	Innovation through multi-sector mobility. The unique scheme will foster a seamless working environment which robustly addresses multi-sector mobility and porosity between academia, industry and the NHS.
Harnessing the digital revolution for local benefit The VEC has been a key contributor to a series of business support digital adoption programmes. The VEC has worked with regional entrepreneurs and SMEs to raise awareness of and build the capability to capture opportunities, provided by digital technologies, such as new markets and productivity gains, as well as support them in overcoming any challenges they face in the process. The VEC received over £10 million of funding and supported 586 businesses/enterprises. One of the projects delivered with traditional valve manufacturer Heap and Partners received the Collaboration Award at the 2019 Made in the North West Awards.	A digitally innovative, competitive and leading LCR Economy This work ensures that the LCR economy benefits from the latest digital innovations, creating opportunities locally and beyond.

Research

Impact

Injectable drugs for treatment

Providing better treatment options for chronic diseases with long-acting, easy-to-administer drugs, improving patient compliance.

The University’s Centre of Excellence for Long-acting Therapeutics (CELT) has developed an injectable implant composed of responsive polymer and drug nanoparticles. This implant provides a controlled, long-acting release of medication, which improves treatment adherence for chronic disease patients. Once the drug is released, the materials degrade safely, leaving no toxic residue in the body. This innovation represents a significant advance in drug delivery systems.

Enhanced treatment

Improves patient compliance and reduces frequent dosing.

A century of innovation: Shaping the future with Unilever

The University of Liverpool’s long-standing partnership with Unilever, dating back to 1917, has driven significant advancements in product development.

Our Materials Innovation Factory (MIF) is a world-class facility launched in 2017, hosting over 200 Unilever R&D staff, focused on materials chemistry. It has made a tangible impact by supporting Unilever’s product sales by over €500 million annually since 2018. Investments in cutting-edge technology have led to innovations including Dove’s Fibre Repair Active technology and Hourglass’s Vegan Confession Red Zero Lipstick, enhancing both performance and sustainability.

Revolutionising markets

The University’s collaborations with Unilever are transforming the global chemical supply chain towards Net Zero by 2050.

Digital car production

Accelerating the production process in the automotive industry, leading to quicker product development and job creation.

The University’s Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC) collaborated with Bentley Motors and local SMEs to develop new digital tools for the automotive industry. By sharing engineering data and working closely on Bentley’s flagship model, the Mulsanne, the VEC helped create a framework that significantly reduces product development time. This collaboration not only streamlined Bentley’s processes but also led to the creation of highly skilled roles to support the ongoing digitalisation of their manufacturing processes.

Economic growth

Speeds up production and creates new jobs.

Biofilm

Addressing global challenges such as antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and water security.

The University of Liverpool, a key partner in the National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC), is at the forefront of pioneering medical innovations. The NBIC has a network of over 260 companies, working collaboratively with. Liverpool researchers have led research projects that included developing self-cleaning surfaces for surgical tools with Genoca Ltd, and cool plasma technology for wound dressing with 5D Health Protection Group Ltd. With this work, the University is addressing critical health challenges, enhancing infection prevention and wound healing in medical settings.

Improved safety

Advances strategies for managing resistance and ensuring safety. Net Zero by 2050.

Understanding markets

Improving public services, travel policies, and arts promotion through advanced the classification of people.

The University’s Geographic Data Science Lab (GDSL) applied cutting-edge machine learning techniques to create detailed and reproducible geodemographic classifications from large spatial datasets. These classifications are being used by organisations such as Hull City Council, Transport for London, and the Office for National Statistics to improve service delivery, develop sustainable travel policies, and support cultural initiatives. The classifications are also utilised by private companies, including CARTO, to enhance user experiences on their platforms.

Informed decision-making

Enhances public services and policy.

Protecting our pets

Enhancing the health and safety of pets by monitoring disease outbreaks and improving vaccination rates.

The University developed SAVSNET, the world’s first comprehensive active surveillance system for pets. SAVSNET collects and analyses electronic health records from UK veterinary practices and diagnostic labs, providing critical data to detect outbreaks, improve vaccination coverage, and influence antimicrobial practices. This research is instrumental in shaping national policies for animal health.

Better pet health

Improves disease management and vaccination rates.

Aircraft safety and costs

Making air travel safer and more affordable by reducing development time and costs for aircraft structures.

The University has pioneered technology that integrates physical tests with advanced simulations, enabling more accurate predictions and reducing the need for extensive physical testing. This has led to a 30% reduction in aircraft development time, and cost savings of £10 million per cycle. Their methodologies are now being incorporated into international airframe manufacturing standards by leading aerospace companies such as Airbus, Boeing, and Bombardier.

Cost savings and efficiency

Reduces development time and costs.

Researching the past

Allowing people to explore and understand historical criminal records, influencing public perceptions of criminality.

The University created the Digital Panopticon, a powerful online resource that links together over 50 digitised datasets, offering access to the most complete records of 90,000 convicts tried at the Old Bailey between 1670 and 1925. The platform supports research for family historians, educators, and students, and has been pivotal in changing public understanding of criminality in the UK, Australia, and the US. The project has also led to exhibitions, public talks, and media features that disseminate these findings widely.

Historical insight

Enhances understanding of historical criminal justice.

Advancing medicine development

The University of Liverpool is a lead of the £8.2 million Medical Research Council (MRC) funded medicines carer development partnership, with academic and industry bodies that include Queen Mary University London, The University of Glasgow, the University of Manchester, GSK and AstraZeneca.

The MRC Medicines Development Fellowship Programme will strengthen interactions between academia and industry to deliver world-class medicines development. It will support four pre-doctoral Fellows and the development of four new, five-year Clinician Scientist Fellowships.

The programme is co-funded and supported by two major pharmaceutical companies, GSK and AstraZeneca, in addition to Optum and Hammersmith Medicines Research, the UK’s largest clinical research organisation for early clinical trials.

It will cover several disease areas as core themes, including infection and inflammation, cardiac, and respiratory disease. These align with key strengths of the four Universities, such as experimental medicine, artificial intelligence and data science, and product development areas for industry partners, ecology and neuropsychiatry.

Innovation through multi-sector mobility.

The unique scheme will foster a seamless working environment which robustly addresses multi-sector mobility and porosity between academia, industry and the NHS.

Harnessing the digital revolution for local benefit

The VEC has been a key contributor to a series of business support digital adoption programmes.

The VEC has worked with regional entrepreneurs and SMEs to raise awareness of and build the capability to capture opportunities, provided by digital technologies, such as new markets and productivity gains, as well as support them in overcoming any challenges they face in the process. The VEC received over £10 million of funding and supported 586 businesses/enterprises. One of the projects delivered with traditional valve manufacturer Heap and Partners received the Collaboration Award at the 2019 Made in the North West Awards.

A digitally innovative, competitive and leading LCR Economy

This work ensures that the LCR economy benefits from the latest digital innovations, creating opportunities locally and beyond.