Cranfield University is ranked as one of the leading universities for working with businesses and for Intellectual Property (IP) and commercialisation.

The Knowledge Exchange Framework 4 (KEF), published by Research England, examines how universities engage with society and the economy on a local, national and international scale.

Top 20% for working with business, IP and commercialisation

Cranfield University is grouped into a STEM cluster in the KEF assessment, measured alongside other specialist institutions that focus on science, technology, engineering and maths, and which the report says “produce high amounts of excellent research”.

Compared to others in the STEM cluster, Cranfield was placed:

• In the top 20% for working with business
• In the top 20% for IP and commercialisation
• Above its specialist grouping average for CPD and Graduate startups

The University also improved its position for local growth and regeneration.

Professor Leon A. Terry, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Cranfield University, said: “Cranfield remains one of the strongest universities for working closely with businesses and bringing commercial impact. Knowledge exchange is at the heart of our mission, with our research and expertise renowned for driving positive innovations in industry.”

In the past three years, Cranfield’s research income win has increased by 45%. Commercial research has increased by third in a year, and now makes up a quarter of all research income. A further £90 million in large grants has been awarded through Research England in 2024.

A track record in knowledge exchange success

Cranfield University works closely with industry to move forward innovations and new technologies. Examples of their knowledge exchange success include:

• A long-standing partnership with Airbus which has delivered over £13 million of research activity in recent years, and which is shortlisted for the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering Bhattacharyya award. Cranfield contributes to delivering technology advances and production efficiencies to Airbus’ aircraft product portfolio.
• Collaborating with Calyo and Benedex Robotics, Cranfield is helping improve safety in self-driving vehicles. The University’s technical expertise is helping to develop a safety sensing system based on 3D ultrasound.
• Helping to create a sustainable tea production industry, the University is working with LIPTON Teas and Infusions to test climate change practices in field trials. The project aims to improve tea production standards and create data and resources that can benefit the whole industry.
• Many spinouts from Cranfield have gone on to commercial success including WAAM3D, a company that created state-of-the-art wire additive manufacturing technologies.

The aim of the KEF is to increase efficiency and effectiveness in the use of public funding for knowledge exchange (KE) and to further a culture of continuous improvement in universities. The University’s full result in the Knowledge Exchange Framework can be found on the KEF website.