Developing Business-Aware Academics

Postgraduate Research Experience Survey 2025

advance-he.ac.uk/knowledge-hu...

We were very interested to read the results of the 2025 PRES survey this week, which found that 30% of respondents engaged with non-academic partners in 2024/25

UKRI artificial intelligence research and innovation strategic framework This framework outlines UK Research and Innovation's (UKRI) future investments in artificial intelligence (AI) across six priority action areas.

UKRI artificial intelligence research and innovation strategic framework

www.ukri.org/publications...

@ukri.org released their new AI strategic framework this week. Their commitment to delivering AI training for researchers resonates with our survey of businesses from last year

Becoming Universities: The Progress of England’s New HEIs

www.edge.co.uk/documents/60...

This new report from @edgeuk.bsky.social reviewed how England’s newest universities have developed. We were particularly interested in their section on external partners

#AcademicSky

New collaborative models of knowledge exchange are needed The traditional commercialisation paradigm isn’t the only way to approach knowledge exchange. Kim Stuart and Audrey Cumberford introduce a new initiative in Scotland spanning modern and smaller univer...

New collaborative models of knowledge exchange are needed

wonkhe.com/blogs/new-co...

This article on @wonkhe.bsky.social last week, from Kim Stuart and Audrey Cumberford, shares a new initiative in Scotland to support smaller institutions to engage in #KnowledgeExchange

#AcademicSky

A photo of a number of people sat in watching a presentation, wearing brightly-coloured lanyards. Overlaid is the DBAA logo and text reading "Readings Round-Up"

We're sharing the publications, events, and opportunities from around the HE sector that feed into the DBAA project’s goal of supporting PGRs and ECRs to engage beyond academia and transform their ideas into action

Some of our recent favourites:

#AcademicSky #PhDSky #PhDChat

Strong research–industry partnerships don’t happen by accident, they grow through curiosity, shifting mindsets and the willingness to collaborate.

Professor Mark Cragg shares his top tips, and the principles that helped him foster industry relationships.

🔗https://tinyurl.com/2v5sartn

Towards a unified policy and evidence capacity for the UK research and innovation system

ircaucus.ac.uk/publications...

This new report from the Innovation and Research Caucus compares the UK’s use of evidence in policy-making, drawing comparisons between the UK and eight other OECD countries

Open letter from Ian Chapman to research and innovation community UKRI Chief Executive outlines changes to UKRI investment approach, addressing concerns about research funding and the financial position of STFC.

Open letter from Ian Chapman to research and innovation community

www.ukri.org/news/open-le...

Sir Ian Chapman, Chief Executive of @ukri.org, shared an open letter on Sunday addressing recent changes to UKRI funding. We look forward to hearing the detail of these changes as they emerge

Deepening university-investor links: a review by Tony Hickson Tony Hickson’s review draws on extensive knowledge across the research and innovation ecosystem to offer recommendations to deepen university-investor links and UK economic growth.

Deepening university-investor links: a review by Tony Hickson

www.ukri.org/publications...

We were delighted to be mentioned in this new Research England report by Tony Hickson. We couldn't agree more with his suggestions of increased tailored, experiential learning for researchers

We're sharing the publications, events, and opportunities from around the HE sector that feed into the DBAA project’s goal of supporting PGRs and ECRs to engage beyond academia and transform their ideas into action

Some of our recent favourites:

#AcademicSky #PhDSky #PhDChat #AcademicChat

Policies in doctoral education

www.eua.eu/publications...

The second set of results from @eua.eu’s EUA-CDE survey have been released, with some great insights into academic-industry collaboration at the doctoral level. Well worth a read - chapter 3 was especially relevant for our work!

#PhDSky

Sussex institutions unite to launch landmark Civic University Agreement Universities and some of Sussex’s most prominent local organisations officially came together yesterday (Tuesday 13 January) to launch a powerful new commitment to boost regional economic growth and t...

Sussex institutions unite to launch landmark Civic University Agreement

www.sussex.ics.nhs.uk/sussex-insti...

Great to see project partner University of Sussex, alongside @uniofbrighton.bsky.social and the University of Chichester, sign a new Civic University Agreement with local partners

Quarterly update

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696fae...

@ukri.org’s new funding model is included as a key development in this quarterly Industrial Strategy update, highlighting once more the government’s commitment to aligning research with industrial priorities

#AcademicSky

UKRI R&D strategy for the creative and cultural economy

UKRI R&D strategy for the creative and cultural economy

www.ukri.org/publications...

As part of their new budget allocations, @ukri.org released a strategy for the creative and cultural economy this month, continuing their commitment to place-based, challenge-led investment

#ResearchFunding #UKRI

A photo of a researcher standing next to a cylindrical tank of water. He is holding a sheet of paper while looking into the water. Overlaid is the DBAA logo, and text reading "Readings round-up".

We're sharing the publications, events, and opportunities from around the HE sector that feed into the DBAA project’s goal of supporting PGRs and ECRs to engage beyond academia and transform their ideas into action

Some of our recent favourites:

#AcademicSky #PhDSky #PhDChat

📢 Last chance for #PhD & early-career #researchers to join a pilot networking event to explore real industry challenges with Developing Business-Aware Academics project partner Babcock International Group. Deadline today 21 November!
Don't miss out! Find out more & sign-up here: tinyurl.com/3a6ztr3h

Welcome - Developing Business-Aware Academics We bring together academics, industry, non-profits and policy makers to encourage mobility of people and ideas, boost the economy, and enable a healthier, more sustainable and socially-just future for...

This week's Cancer Research Horizons Innovation Summit at The Royal Institution was a reminder that while not everyone is a born entrepreneur, it can be learnt!
Thank you to everyone who dropped by the DBAA stand
#OnMyHorizon #InnovationSummit2025

UK’s failure to retain and scale science and technology causing economy to bleed out, warns Lords Committee - Committees - UK Parliament The Committee’s report warns the Government that the UK’s failure to retain and scale its science and technology companies has now reached crisis point and is causing the UK economy to ble...

UK’s failure to retain and scale science and technology causing economy to bleed out, warns Lords Committee

committees.parliament.uk/committee/19...

This new report calls for increased support for researcher career mobility, and a stabilising of the HE sector. We couldn’t agree more!

Northern Ireland can be a testbed for research culture A new report from the Research Culture Northern Ireland initiative puts the spotlight on the nation’s distinctive research ecosystem. Members of the project team reflect on the findings and offer less...

Northern Ireland can be a testbed for research culture

wonkhe.com/blogs/northe...

A great article over on @wonkhe.bsky.social this week shares interesting reflections on research culture that can be applied across the UK. We were especially interested in their stat on external collaborations!

New Peer-to-Peer Framework

www.advance-he.ac.uk/news-and-vie...

Peer learning schemes can be so useful for researchers throughout their careers. This framework from Advance HE highlights some of the key features and recommendations.

Should business schools be trying harder to help businesses? Debate: Professors argue the cases for engagement and impact — and for independent academic rigour

Should business schools be trying harder to help businesses?

www.ft.com/content/aa69...

Hugely interesting debate over on @financialtimes.com this week! We loved this quote: "The goal is not to turn scholars into consultants or managers into researchers, but to harness what each does best."

On Fridays, we share the publications, events, and opportunities from around the HE sector that feed into the DBAA project’s goal of supporting PGRs and ECRs to engage beyond academia and transform their ideas into action

Some of our recent favourites:

#AcademicSky #PhDSky #PhDChat

Research challenge!   - Developing Business-Aware Academics Connect beyond academia to transform your ideas into action

Early career and PhD researchers, join our research challenge!
Online workshop 26 Nov & in-person networking 8 Dec. Connect with partners, and transform your research into action.

Sign Up Here: business-aware-academics.org/events/resea...

#AcademicSky #AcademicChatter #Networking

Initiative to transform research support roles gets £4.5m - Research Professional News Sector-wide collaboration to establish identities and pathways for research professionals receives Research England backing

Initiative to transform research support roles gets £4.5m

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

We were excited to hear about this new project working to support research professionals across the sector. We look forward to seeing the results of their research!

#AcademicSky

2025 Beauhurst report on university spinouts We are delighted to launch our annual report, Equity Investment into University Spinouts 2025, in conjunction with Beauhurst.

2025 Beauhurst report on university spinouts

parkwalkadvisors.com/2025/10/2025...

This new report analyses investments in spin-outs in 2024. It was exciting to see that investment increased by 44.3% over the previous year, highlighting the significance of these enterprises to the UK economy.

Civic Field Guide: Terrain-Tested Pathways for Civic University Success Explore the Civic Field Guide—a comprehensive resource offering proven strategies for universities to align people, place, policy, partnership, practice, process, and purpose for lasting community imp...

Civic Field Guide

civicuniversitynetwork.co.uk/civic-field-...

The beta version of this new guide from the Civic University Network gives some great insights on how to use partnerships to strengthen place-based impact

#AcademicSky #CivicUniversities #ResearchImpact

New fellowship framework to strengthen UK research and innovation A new approach to fellowships will make funding opportunities clearer, simpler and more effective for researchers and innovators at different career stages.

New fellowship framework to strengthen UK research and innovation

www.ukri.org/news/new-fel...

UKRI is updating how it funds fellowships, splitting all fellowships into three categories. We’re especially interested in seeing the sector transition fellows in action!

#Academicsky #ResearchFunding

A phot of Dr Meredith Hale holding a small print of a portrait engraving. Overlaid is the DBAA logo and text reading "Weekly readings round-up"

Every Friday, we share the publications, events, and opportunities from around the HE sector that feed into the DBAA project’s goal of supporting PGRs and ECRs to engage beyond academia and transform their ideas into action

Some of our recent favourites:

#AcademicSky #PhDSky #PhDChat #AcademicChat

How Community Innovation Practitioners are reshaping place-based innovation Rachel Connor sets out how communities can be at the heart of inclusive innovation

How Community Innovation Practitioners are reshaping place-based innovation

wonkhe.com/blogs/how-co...

This article over on @wonkhe.bsky.social this week was a great way to learn about the Creative Communities programme, and how academics can research with – not just to – local communities.

How academics and ‘big tech’ can learn from one another Foreseeing clashes of cultures is the key to making industry-academic collaborations mutually beneficial.

How academics and ‘big tech’ can learn from one another

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

This article from Steven C Currall on @natureportfolio.nature.com explores role of work culture differences in collaborations with big tech companies. Well worth a read!