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The University of Liverpool continues to perform strongly in Research England’s Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF), including impressive progress in IP and Commercialisation. It maintains its position as one of the country’s leading universities for knowledge exchange.
KEF is an annual, metrics-driven assessment of how universities in England collaborate with external partners, from businesses to community groups, for the benefit of the economy and society.
It evaluates performance across seven areas of knowledge exchange, and clusters similar universities for comparison. The University of Liverpool is in Cluster V with the largest, most research intensive and broad discipline universities undertaking significant amounts of excellent research. Results are presented as quintile scores, with Quintile 5 (representing very high engagement) being the highest possible position.
The 2024 results show that the University of Liverpool remains in the top quintile for Research Partnerships, Working with Business and Working with the Public and Third Sector, exceeding the average score for the cluster.
This year we also increased our performance in IP and Commercialisation where we now sit in the top quintile.
The results recognise our high engagement (Quintile 4) in Public and Community Engagement, which is in line with the cluster average. Our performance in Local Growth and Regeneration also remains in line with the cluster average.
Research partnerships
Our success in this perspective reflects our strategic focus on partnerships and collaborative research. The University’s long-standing strategic partnership with Unilever is a leading example of knowledge exchange between industry and academia. Our combined research expertise has led to the development of new materials and formulations, spin-out companies and the co-funding of cutting-edge facilities, including the Materials Innovation Factory.
Working with Business
We work with a wide range of commercial organisations on contract research and consultancy projects, from large businesses to SMEs. For instance, we have worked with the NSG Group for many years on a range of research topics with a strong focus on digital materials discovery. Our Knowledge Transfer Partnership with CSols Ltd is enhancing laboratory software and data handling. Meanwhile, our researchers have developed innovative, legally-grounded AI models that can assess the potential success of legal cases.
Working with the Public and Third Sector
Our collaborations with public and third-sector organisations worldwide have shaped policy, driven innovation, and created meaningful impact. From addressing childhood obesity and driving affordable housing regeneration to promoting sustainable arts-in-health partnerships, our combined expertise is crucial in tackling the global challenges that impact us all.
IP and Commercialisation
Our progress in this area reflects the strategic focus and investment in resources and projects to support an entrepreneurial culture. Our IP income has increased, and our portfolio of spin-out companies has gone from strength to strength, AI-Sight for example, which spun out of the University in 2022, is developing a next-generation artificial intelligence system that will revolutionise diabetic eye screening. The company recently secured £1 million pre-seed equity investment and signed a collaboration agreement with a UK Healthcare Industry Leader.
Our performance in KEF is underpinned by the University’s 2031 Strategic Framework and we have seen improvements in several of the metrics which inform the perspective scores due to investment and growth in areas of strategic focus. Income from IP, and the number and turnover of our spin-out companies has increased over the KEF 4 period (2020/21 – 2022/23). Income from contract research with large businesses and the public and third sector has also increased, as has the number of graduate start-ups.
Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Liverpool said: I am delighted with the University’s outstanding performance in the latest KEF results. These results showcase our strategic focus on making a real-world impact through meaningful partnerships and leveraging our IP to benefit people, our place, and the planet. They also recognise our collaborative strengths in engaging with hundreds of local, national, and international partners. Together, we are advancing our mission and making a difference in the world.”
KEF’s interactive dashboards have been released by Research England and can be viewed here. This includes narrative statements provided by universities on the Institutional Context for KE, Local Growth and Regeneration, and Public and Community Engagement.
Our webpages here showcase a selection of innovative knowledge exchange activities, projects and partnerships at the University of Liverpool that benefit society and the wider economy. These examples include our strategic partnership with Unilever, the Horizons Programme, spin-out companies and more.
WATCH - John Whaling, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Lead Officer for Innovation and Commercialisation, explains more about the importance of this work:
Further details on KEF, and our past performance can be found here.
Contact us
If you require further information around KEF, please contact Stephanie Dolben, Knowledge Exchange Strategy and Evaluation Manager, at sdolben@liverpool.ac.uk.
Work with us
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Information for University of Liverpool staff
Knowledge Exchange is a key mechanism to bring about real-world impact. As a university, we aim to develop KE capabilities, generate opportunities, and provide support for the realisation and sustainability of impact through Knowledge Exchange.
Research, Partnerships and Innovation (RPI) is your primary link to developing collaborations with organisations outside of academia . You can also access the Research Partnering Toolkit, your virtual guide to creating impactful and rewarding collaborations. Discover more on our Partnership Development webpages here.
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