Our research and knowledge exchange impacts
Our research partnerships, knowledge exchange practices, and support for start-ups and intellectual property commercialisation make impacts both locally and globally.
Impact of research partnerships and collaborations
The Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF), 2023 identified that the University of Liverpool has 1,300 research partnerships with a range of organisations. It also has 322 collaborative research projects with businesses, third sector, and public sector, across 40 countries.
The 2024 KEF results placed the University of Liverpool in the top quintile (Quintile 5, representing very high engagement) for Research Partnerships, Intellectual Property (IP) and Commercialisation, Working with Business, and Working with the Public and Third Sector.
The University of Liverpool’s research grants and contracts income amounted to £118 million in 2022/23 (Figure 4.1) and has research partnerships involving over 1,300 organisations from a range of sectors and domains.
The University has 10 established, and many more emerging, strategic partnerships with a range of organisations, working on aligned goals and projects that foster innovation, research and development, skills development, and knowledge exchange for mutual and societal benefit.
The University’s longest-standing partnership is with Unilever, which has developed over nearly 100 years. This collaboration has involved decades of joint research, facility investment and expertise rooted in chemistry and led to the creation of the £81 million Materials Innovation Factory (MIF), which opened in 2017. The partnership continues to expand, including integrated appointments focused on the microstructure and characterisation of complex soft matter systems and areas such as heritage, microbiome research including soft matter systems characterisation.
In addition to Unilever, the University maintains strategic partnerships with SciTech Daresbury, National Museums Liverpool, CPI, NSG Pilkington and Baker Hughes among others reflecting its commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration across a range of fields.
The Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) further bolsters partnership working efforts by supporting joint interactions and partnerships managers that lead on partner engagement. The University of Liverpool uses a small part of its HEIF allocation to hold an annual open competition for projects with non-HEI partners, promoting collaboration and addressing UKRI challenge areas. The projects supported in 2022/23 helped to strengthen and catalyse partnerships with 22 commercial and non-profit organisations both in the UK and internationally. The University of Liverpool aligns this funding with UKRI priorities and an investment of £852,000 over five years has leveraged £26 million in further collaborative funding from business and grant sources.
Services to businesses and consultancy
The University generates significant economic value by offering a range of services to businesses. Collaborating with the University grants companies access to cutting-edge research and academic best practices, which can enhance their productivity and profitability. This contributes to a more productive workforce and potentially higher wages, further stimulating the economy through increased consumer spending.
In recent years, the University has seen a rise in its contract research and consultancy services income. In 2022/23, it supported over 300 consultancy projects, working with partners as varied as the producers of the TV series Frozen Planet II and Leeds Community Homes, demonstrating its wide-ranging expertise in areas from ice sheet dynamics to policy recommendations for community-led housing.
The University’s contract research activities alone generated £23.5 million from 479 contracts, while its consultancy services brought in £14.8 million. Between 2019/20 and 2022/23, there was a notable 38% increase in annual contract research income and a 20% rise in consultancy income.
Commercialisation, licensing and IP impact
Supporting intellectual property (IP) commercialisation remains a central focus for the University, with significant growth in this area over recent years. The University’s IP income has grown from £2.9 million in 2020/21 to £4.9million in 2022/23.
The University has a patent portfolio of 355 patents, and 24 spin-out companies have been supported in the last six years along with 115 jobs created. Since 2018 the University has committed a total of £5.6 million in Enterprise Investment Funding (EIF), which has levered a further £24 million of investment, industry, and grants funding.
In 2023, the University moved into the top 20 nationally and the highest in the North West based on the Octopus Ventures Rankings that measured universities’ success at turning their academic achievements into thriving companies.
Notable examples of the University’s success include the Innovate UK funded Microbials Accelerator Programme, which supported 24 small and medium-sized enterprises with expertise and commercialisation assistance.
Additionally, prototype testing of cold plasma decontamination technology led to patents and the creation of the new spin-out company PlasmaFresh, which has secured £570,000 in investment from Innovate UK and the UoL Enterprise Investment Fund.
Robotiz3d, a spin-out from 2020 specialising in autonomous pothole detection and repair, benefited from HEIF funding for the development of their ARRES EYE technology. This support not only facilitated the launch of a pioneering product but also helped them expand their client network and secure £3 million in planned investment.
Start-ups and spin-outs
The University is at the forefront of nurturing start-ups and spin-outs through dedicated support programmes, incubators, and partnerships. By facilitating the growth of new ventures and translating academic research into viable business opportunities, the University not only stimulates economic activity but also fosters a culture of entrepreneurship within its community. Retaining these spin-outs within the region enriches the local economy, keeps graduates as part of a skilled workforce, and generates jobs.
The University’s IP Enterprise team has significantly contributed to this success by leveraging initiatives such as the EIF, which de-risks technology projects and provides crucial start-up capital. Complementing this, the University offers a professional development framework for new academic founders and supports access to external accelerator programmes.
Making an impact with research locally
The University is at the heart of the Liverpool Innovation landscape creating local impact through its research, knowledge exchange and partnerships with employers and the public sector. These interactions include policy advice and data analysis, world-leading research specialisms (such as infection prevention and control, materials chemistry, AI solutions and emerging technologies) and practical steps towards achieving net-zero that are relevant for enhancing productivity.