University of Manchester ranks in top 5 UK universities for industry funding
The University of Manchester has climbed one place to fifth for industry research funding nationally, according to HESA Higher Education Income data.
The University of Manchester now sits behind Oxford, Imperial, Cambridge and University College London, a position that reflects the University鈥檚 successful growth in research partnerships and business collaborations, driven by its Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange team.
From the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020/21 through to the latest 2023/24 dataset, The University of Manchester saw 47% growth in industry funding to 拢30.1million, almost doubling on the sector average of 24%. In the last year, The University of Manchester鈥檚 industry income grew by an impressive 19% against the backdrop of a 0.2% contraction across the sector.
The annual Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) sets out the income and expenditure of all higher education providers across the sector, providing a detailed national picture of university finances. The survey provides information on the total industry funding received, broken down by UK, EU, and non-EU industry funding.
Our University is a powerhouse of research and it鈥檚 fantastic to see the strength of our research partnerships recognised in the latest HESA data.
The University鈥檚 Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange team is also celebrating the results of the latest Higher Education Business Community and Interaction (HE-BCI) . The survey captures knowledge exchange activity more broadly and provides information on collaborative research and contract research with both SMEs and larger organisations.
In the latest survey, 91直播 ranked second for contract research with SMEs. It also took fourth place for collaborative research with larger organisations and seventh for total contract research.
Professor Richard Jones, Vice-President for Regional Innovation and Civic Engagement said: 鈥淥ur partnerships with industry represent one crucial route by which the outcomes of our research support much-needed productivity growth in the economy, both nationally and in our region.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great to see that so many companies 鈥� including a record number of the SMEs that are so important for Greater 91直播鈥檚 economy 鈥� want to work with our outstanding researchers to create a more innovative and prosperous future.鈥�
Dr Louise Bates, Director of Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange, said: 鈥淚 am thrilled to see the results of the HESA and HE-BCI reports which demonstrate the strides we have made at the University and, in my team, to grow the size and breadth of our industry research portfolio. These collaborations not only provide opportunities to drive business innovation, they also allow us to deliver impact through our research by addressing real world challenges and meeting business need.鈥�
Through partnerships, The University of Manchester is fuelling innovation and growth in the North West and beyond, utilising academic expertise to deliver high quality consultancy, collaborative research and knowledge exchange activities.
Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor at The University of Manchester, said: 鈥淥ur University is a powerhouse of research and it鈥檚 fantastic to see the strength of our research partnerships recognised in the latest HESA data. This reflects the outstanding work of our Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange team, and speaks to our broader mission - using knowledge to drive innovation, support business, and tackle pressing challenges here in the North West and beyond.鈥�
The University鈥檚 Business Engagement and Knowlege Exchange team are proud to facilitate partnerships with some of the world's largest organisations along with regional and national SMEs. The team support collaborations which tackle global challenges through interdisciplinary research, as well as supporting industry to develop new products, processes and services.