Influence of universities in UK knowledge economy growing, says survey

The Higher Education Business and Community Interaction Survey shows income from collaborative research, where there is a third partner from business or the community together with a public funder engaged with the HEI, rose 12 per cent to nearly £670 million over the year before.

The value of consultancy services rose 19 per cent from £242 million in 2005–06 to £288 million in 2006–07. The public sector accounted for the greatest part of this increase, though income from small and medium-sized enterprises rose 18 per cent to nearly £47 million, representing over 20,000 interactions.

HEIs also saw increased income from opening access to equipment and facilities, which was up 3 per cent to almost £93 million, with most of this increase coming from SMEs.

However, income from outlicensing fell in real terms, with income from intellectual property rising less than 1 per cent. At the same time there was a 22 per cent increase in the resources invested in protection of IP, to over £20 million. The number of invention disclosures increased by 11 per cent to nearly 3,800. Patent applications and new patents granted both increased from 2005–06 to 2006–07, by 25 per cent and 12 per cent respectively.

In 2006-07, 226 companies were formed based on IP generated by UK HEIs, and there were over 1,200 spin-off companies active, 7 per cent more than in 2005-06.