BU Research Blog

How can working with businesses help to develop research impact?

At the heart of impact is the process of knowledge exchange, which is very much a two-way process between you as the creator of a new piece of knowledge and your audience, who could use or benefit from what you know.

How you communicate that knowledge and to whom, will vary very much according to what your research is and the outcome you hope to achieve.  One route you could consider is working with businesses to develop you research impact.

Case study: Working in partnership with businesses: how research can provide solutions . Bournemouth Research Chronicle (Edition 6, January 2017).

 What is business engagement?

Working with businesses and industry can be a very effective way of developing research impact.  By working in partnership, researchers can help to generate innovation, develop ideas for commercialization and achieve economic and societal impact.  But, remember that knowledge exchange and sharing your ideas with businesses alone isn’t impact – it’s what happens as a consequence of those interactions that matters.

HEFCE defines this type of knowledge exchange as “the transferring or exchanging of knowledge with the aim of delivering external impact, such as improving products, services and profitability. This is linked with research and teaching, and includes consultancy and advisory work, the creation of intellectual property, the development of academic and student entrepreneurship, and a variety of other activities.”

On the other hand, if you need health and safety services that are unique in the marketplace, this 24 hour health and safety support for UK businesses provides UK SMEs with the information they need to ensure ongoing compliance and provide complete protection to your company.

How can you find out more about business engagement?

Please contact Rachel Clarke, Knowledge Exchange Advisor in RDS for further information or see BU’s staff intranet.