Case Study: Impact and Commercialisation Review for leading UK Russell Group university

Background

The School of Biological Sciences of a leading UK Russell Group university, wanted to better understand how it could more effectively support researchers to generate impact and support commercialisation in the strategically important agritech and animal health sectors.

 

Objectives

Looking broadly across the University’s research capabilities and departments, the objectives of the study were to:

1. Identify the leading opportunities for impact and income generation through research, consultancy, policy influence and commercial activities at the University.
2. Analyse market trends and customer insights in impactful and commercial areas where researchers can target their work.

IP Pragmatics was appointed to support the University carry out this project, working in close collaboration with both the University and its technology transfer company.

Approach

Initial information on the University and its research was gathered from a number of public sources, including, but not limited to, department and University websites, grant and funding databases (e.g. BBSRC, InnovateUK, etc.) and impact case studies from previous REF reviews.

To further corroborate the information gathered we carried out more than 20 interviews with key individuals and researchers across more than six departments, including senior research management at the University.

Following on from the internal assessment, we conducted a market assessment for the agritech and animal health markets and participating companies to identify trends and shifts in funding and to map the University’s strengths and capabilities against them. This work included speaking directly with present and potential commercial collaborators to try and identify ways in which the University could engage more proactively with players in these diverse sectors.

Finally, this information was combined with our personal extensive experience in working with several different agritech and veterinary research organisations and commercial companies to formulate recommendations for how the University could generate further opportunities for impact from its world-leading research in these important sectors, including new commercialisation opportunities.

 

Result

The University has used our report and findings to help to raise further awareness amongst researchers about opportunities in the agritech and animal health sectors and to help drive forward new ways it approaches opportunities in these sectors.