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Clearly, developing increased competitiveness from knowledge exchange between business and universities is an important part of economic strategies in developed and developing economies. But we need to establish:

• How is value most likely to be added when businesses work with universities?
• What is the business perspective on how and where universities best add value?
• What implications are there for the Government and Research Councils as they seek to secure economic impact from the academic research they fund?

We have learned from businesses that past metrics – such as Intellectual Property (IP) income, start-up and spin-out activity – fail to capture the richness of the relationships between businesses and universities. Partnership approaches along with the creation of “public space” within universities where issues can be jointly identified and knowledge co-created are more effective vehicles for university-business collaboration.

Our work on the research value chain has identified that it is through their “public space roles” that value is most created. Equally it has identified the importance of businesses having the absorptive capacity to appreciate and implement the knowledge developed.

  • Publications

    • Universities, Business and Knowledge Exchange

      Extracts the lessons from case studies to show how and where value is most generated in the process of developing knowledge that has business application.
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    • Streamlining University Business Collaborative Research Negotiations

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    • UK National Forum for Employers and Business School Deans February 2006 Report

      The National Forum for Employers and Business School Deans was established with the Association of Business Schools (ABS) in 2004. This report looks at the ongoing dialogue on how to further strengthen the capability and capacity of business schools, each with their individual and diverse missions, and by doing so benefiting businesses and society at large.
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    • Higher Education: Meeting International Business Demand

      An interim report on our major review of the competitiveness of UK Higher Education, focusing on Research and Development issues in the international market.
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    • The Business of Knowledge Transfer

      By Philip Ternouth, our Associate Director of R&D. With reference in particular to US Institutions, this report stresses the wide range of university knowledge transfer relationships and the need for appropriately wide metrics against which to evaluate performance.
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    • Doctoral Futures: Career Destinations of Arts and Humanities Research Students

      The first ever survey to consider the career destinations of research students in the arts and humanities. The report raises some key questions for consideration and recommendations for action.
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    • Knowledge Transfer: Towards a Strategic Framework

      By Philip Ternouth. Knowledge transfer and interactions between higher education, business and the community are seen as a core function of universities and colleges. This paper argues the need for a strategic framework. 
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    • Cooperation and Collaboration: Some Reflections on the US and UK

      The third in a series by Richard A Brown, it reflects the author's personal views on US state systems and the benefits of voluntary partnerships that encourage excellence, diversity and progression.
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    • Cooperation and Collaboration: Some Private Sector Experience

      This report reflects the briefing for and discussion at a meeting of the Council in April 2001. The briefing drew on work being finalised for the Long Term Strategy Group of Universities UK by Brian Ramsden and work made available to CIHE by Cap Gemini Ernst & Young.
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    • Cooperation and Collaboration: Informing the Debate

      This paper explores the ways in which cooperation and collaboration between higher education institutions can offer the opportunity to pool expertise and enhance the quality of teaching and learning, as well as research and development.
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  • Submissions

    • Supporting Research Excellence: A Global Business Perspective

      A CIHE-sponsored consultation for the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)
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    • Reform of the RAE

      The CIHE's response to the DfES's consultation into reforming the Research Assessment Exercise.
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    • Knowledge Transfer Summary and Discussion

      A discussion with OST on the future of HEIF2: background paper for consultation tabled at a recent meeting at the Department of Trade and Industry.
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    • Sustaining and Assessing University Research

      CIHE's response to The Review of Research Assessment by Sir Gareth Roberts and the DTI/OST The Sustainability of University Research
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    • Business-University Collaboration

      CIHE's input to the Richard Lambert Review
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    • Knowledge Transfer from Higher Education: Identifying Excellence

      Paper for Director General of the Research Councils to support the implementation of the new HE Innovations Fund proposed in the Science and Innovation White Paper. 
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    • The Future of the RAE

      Paper for HEFCE on the fundamental review of the RAE. 
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  • Additional Resources

    • University Business Collboration: Building Successful and Sustainable Relationships

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