Working with business and industry to generate impact
The way we interact with business and industry is transforming, with the aim of strengthening and increasing the social and economic impact of our research.
Increasing our effectiveness in industrial engagement will have a significant impact. This programme embraces the action-oriented focus of our new University Strategy, aiming to provide wider benefits to our society, culture and the environment.
The Building Industry Engagement and Impact programme is one of the University's eight transformational initiatives and provides additional support with, for example, branding and training, as well as resources to enable ambitious projects to succeed and grow our capacity for working with business.
Whether you're new to working with businesses or already doing so, you can actively support our new industry engagement programme by using our tailored tools and resources.
Contact us
Sarah Thompson
Academic lead for BIEI programme
Amanda Selvaratnam
Professional Services lead for BIEI programme
Tools and resources
We've created an online toolkit to help you work effectively with businesses and build upon existing areas of strength.
Business Engagement Forum
Come together at the Business Engagement Forum to share ideas with staff who are also working with external partners. You'll have opportunities to work together to address challenges, as well as share best practice tips for working with businesses.
Business Development
The Business Development Team supports academics and researchers from across the University to develop collaboration opportunities with industry partners. If you'd like support with a new opportunity, from scoping potential partners to starting the tender process, please get in touch.
Growth areas
As part of the building industry engagement and income programme, six growth areas have been identified to help generate income through different types of knowledge exchange activities. By engaging in these growth areas, you'll help to increase our interactions with business and industry. Growth area leads can help you to build your external networks.
Our growth areas include:
Continuing Professional Development
- The design and delivery of professional development courses for businesses, developed by academic staff and external providers.
- Contact Anna Hastie (anna.hastie@york.ac.uk) for more information.
Consultancy
- Offering specialist opinions, advising on technical issues, or solving problems for businesses as a consultant.
- Contact Anna Hastie (anna.hastie@york.ac.uk) for more information.
Commercialisation
- A form of knowledge transfer which can include licensing intellectual property or creating a company.
- Contact James Kitson (james.kitson@york.ac.uk) for more information.
Contract research
- Research contracted by a business to meet their needs. This is usually wholly funded by the business.
- Contact Amanda Selvaratnam (amanda.selvaratnam@york.ac.uk) for more information.
Collaborative research
- Working on collaborative research projects with funding from at least one public body. It also includes a cash or non-monetary contribution from at least one external industry collaborator.
- Contact David Diston (david.diston@york.ac.uk) for more information.
Facilities and equipment
- The use of our facilities, including buildings, equipment, and academic resources.
- Contact Peter O'Toole (peter.otoole@york.ac.uk) for more information.
Contact us
Sarah Thompson
Academic lead for BIEI programme
Amanda Selvaratnam
Professional Services lead for BIEI programme