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Overhauling research commercialisation at UK universities.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Overhauling research commercialisation at UK universities.
Authors: Williamson, T. R.1,2,3,4,5 (AUTHOR) t.williamson@uwe.ac.uk
Source: Perspectives: Policy & Practice in Higher Education. Oct2025, Vol. 29 Issue 4, p180-189. 10p.
Subject Terms: *Universities & colleges, *Higher education, *University & college administration, *Academic-industrial collaboration, Commercialization, Business development, Diversification in industry
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
Abstract: UK universities face two existential threats: (1) sources of income are critically undiversified from international student tuition fees that recent global health and conflict crises have put at risk; (2) academic departments in the arts and humanities face cuts in many institutions over unprofitability. This article argues that research commercialisation may represent a useful tool to address these threats to different extents. An overview of current research commercialisation in the UK precedes a framework of aims and principles to govern overhauled research commercialisation efforts. Most importantly, it is argued that departmental business development staff should be employed to collaboratively determine commercial research opportunities with academics, which should then be retained and developed within universities to maximise institutions' eventual share of the gains. It is concluded that a vastly expanded research commercialisation wing of university administration would empower more world-leading discovery and strengthen the long-term business model of UK higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Education Research Complete
Description
Abstract:UK universities face two existential threats: (1) sources of income are critically undiversified from international student tuition fees that recent global health and conflict crises have put at risk; (2) academic departments in the arts and humanities face cuts in many institutions over unprofitability. This article argues that research commercialisation may represent a useful tool to address these threats to different extents. An overview of current research commercialisation in the UK precedes a framework of aims and principles to govern overhauled research commercialisation efforts. Most importantly, it is argued that departmental business development staff should be employed to collaboratively determine commercial research opportunities with academics, which should then be retained and developed within universities to maximise institutions' eventual share of the gains. It is concluded that a vastly expanded research commercialisation wing of university administration would empower more world-leading discovery and strengthen the long-term business model of UK higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:13603108
DOI:10.1080/13603108.2024.2351798