Universities UK (UUK), the collective voice of universities across the UK, and Elsevier, a global leader in research information and analytics, have announced a strategic partnership to strengthen evidence on how UK university research supports the eight priority sectors in the UK Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy (IS-8).
The project will bring together UUK’s policy expertise and understanding of the university sector with Elsevier’s experience in research data, analytics and insight. Together, the organisations will produce new analysis of university research activity across the eight growth-driving sectors: Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy Industries, Creative Industries, Defence, Digital and Technologies, Financial Services, Life Sciences, and Professional and Business Services.
This work will help build a clearer picture of the UK university research landscape, including patterns of activity, distribution, collaboration and regional alignment. The aim is to create a practical evidence base that can support policy engagement, inform discussion with universities, government and funders, and show where university research strengths align with future economic and industrial opportunities.
This partnership is an important first step in a longer-term relationship between UUK and Elsevier, with scope to build on the analysis over time and explore further sector-focused work as new policy and evidence needs emerge.
More information about the IS-8 project and findings will be announced at a later date.
Vivienne Stern MBE, Chief Executive of Universities UK said:
University research is vital to the UK’s ability to thrive in a rapidly changing world – economically, socially and technologically. Through this joint project with Elsevier, UUK will develop a robust evidence base showing how university research contributes to the UK’s Industrial Strategy sectors and supports national priorities.
We are excited to partner with Elsevier on this project, bringing together Elsevier’s analytical insights with UUK’s policy expertise and deep understanding of the university sector. The work will provide fresh evidence on the scale, focus and impact of university research across key sectors, including collaboration with business and other partners. It will enable government, industry and wider stakeholders to get a clearer picture of how universities support innovation, growth and the UK’s future prosperity.
Vivienne Stern MBE
Chief Executive, Universities UK
Professor Sarah Main, Vice President for Academic and Government Relations, UK, at Elsevier said:
The Government’s Industrial Strategy is designed to drive growth, and it can be supported by UK research and innovation capability across the priority growth sectors. Universities are central to the UK’s research and innovation ecosystem, and robust evidence is vital to understanding how their strengths connect with the Government’s priority growth sectors. Elsevier is pleased to be partnering with Universities UK on this important work, bringing our research data, analytics and sector-level insight to help build a clearer picture of university research activity across the IS-8 sectors. We hope this will provide a practical foundation for informed policy discussion and future collaboration.
Professor Sarah Main
Vice President, Academic and Government Relations, UK, Elsevier