FWRECR16132BEIS - Research into Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation Issues

BEIS wish to commission research to further explore the issues in interactions between universities and business. The evidence to date concerning specific barriers to collaboration in the relationships has been primarily anecdotal and BEIS wish to build a more robust evidence base to better inform policy.

The research has 3 main aims: The first aim is to validate, and refine as appropriate, a proposed model of KEC, including Influencing Factors, Transaction Types and Transaction Stages. Secondly, the research should then apply this model to increase understanding of how different factors influence the development of knowledge exchange policies and practices, and how certain factors create complexity or barriers leading to problems in practice. Thirdly, the research should explore how and where improvements might be made to KEC practice (in both universities and business), governance or leadership, including the role of improved information in improving understanding and overcoming barriers to collaboration.