The University of Birmingham is one of the leading Higher Education Institutions in the United Kingdom for partnership with business and industry.
It is one of the leading Higher Education Institutions in the United Kingdom for partnership with business and industry. According to the 2018 Reuters’ ranking of the ‘most innovative universities in Europe’, the University was the sixth highest placed UK university, and 34th in Europe.
New research contracts with UK and international business exceeded £20 million in 2017–18, and the University has capitalised on the opportunities from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund with major grants to our National Centre for Nuclear Robotics (£43 million), and from the Faraday Institution to lead a programme on recycling of lithium-ion batteries. Substantive links with industry also include a £60 million investment from Rolls-Royce and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to develop the world-leading High Temperature Research Centre, a £60 million investment for the Energy Research Accelerator partnership, and most recently, £92 million from government and industry to establish a UK railway research partnership, including a major investment from Siemens.
In the Social Sciences, the recently established ‘Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business’ is an interdisciplinary research and engagement space exploring how businesses can be ‘rewired responsibly’ to inform, shape and energise the Responsible Business Revolution. The development of strategic partnerships with business and industry is supported by the University’s 15-strong Business Engagement team who pro-actively support relationships to co-create funding opportunities.
Birmingham Business School is one of only a handful of the world’s business schools to hold the gold standard of ‘triple-crown’ accreditation from the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), AMBA (Assocuation of MBAs) and EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System).
University of Birmingham Enterprise manages the University’s technology transfer operations, academic consultancy, spin-out company set up, business incubation, and facilities at the Birmingham Research Park. It provides an end-to-end service for academic innovators, including practical and financial support for proof of concept studies and market research, training for academics, incubation services and facilities for hi-tech and biomedical startups.
Investing in the future
With an annual turnover exceeding £650 million, the University is using its financial strength to invest in its own intellectual and physical future.
Some £300 million has been invested in the Birmingham campus over the past three years and our staff, students and wider community are already benefiting from a number of signature buildings, including a best-in-class library, a Collaborative Teaching Laboratory for STEM subjects, a major sports centre, a dedicated postgraduate centre, outstanding new student accommodation, and a state-of-the-art student services hub. The University has now embarked on a further capital investment that will exceed £600 million over the next five years. Development is moving apace to establish a stunning Green Heart parkland area at the centre of our campus, a new building for Engineering, a Centre for Human Brain Health, a Life Sciences Park, and many other facilities to benefit the academic and student communities.
Global outlook
In research, the University has a focused approach with an emphasis on key country partnerships. In China, it has developed a broad range of activities, including a signature collaboration with the Guangzhou Municipal Government, and well-developed research collaborations in many parts of the country; having established a dedicated China Institute to further these partnerships. In Brazil, the Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham are working together in a unique collaboration to develop a network of strategic partnerships with Brazilian universities, as well as the oil and gas industry.
In North America, the University has a major collaboration with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign underpinned by a flourishing network of faculty-to-faculty relationships. In Australia, the University has a growing partnership with the University of Melbourne, as well as in India.
Industry Professorial Fellowship Scheme
The University of Birmingham Industry Professorial Fellowships Scheme aims to recruit individuals who will develop substantial research capability and strengthen collaborative research links between the University, targeted sectors of industry and specific businesses.
While you may to be working in the area of physical sciences and engineering, life sciences or medical sciences, the University is open to appointing individuals with academic expertise in other disciplinary areas, such as economics, management, law, behavioural or health economics, who work closely with business and industry.
To find out more about the Industry Professorial Fellowships Scheme and to submit your application today, click here.
