Latest News | 13 April 2021
University recognised for business growth contribution
The University of Derby has been recognised for its work to help businesses develop new ideas, products and reduce their carbon footprint.
Its work has led it to achieve a high ranking in the Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) – a key national measure of how higher education contributes to society.
Overseen by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the KEF looks at a diverse range of activities that universities undertake in their communities and regions.
The University of Derby has been placed in the top 10% of universities in two key categories: ‘Local Growth and Regeneration’ and ‘Working with Business’.
Over the past five years, the university has been focused on delivering its Local Growth Strategy, including initiatives such as Invest to Grow, which offers companies grants and loans of up to £250,000 to innovate, grow and create jobs.
By delivering £26 million to local companies, the Invest to Grow scheme has unlocked a further £98 million of private sector funding – and met its job creation target of 1,900 posts in SMEs four years ahead of schedule.
The university also works with Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council to run the DE-Carbonise scheme, offering low carbon technology expertise to businesses.
Professor Warren Manning, the university’s provost for innovation and research, said: “KEF is a hugely important measure of a university’s impact and is a chance to showcase the extent of our support for the economic, social and cultural life of our community and region.
“As the only university in Derby and Derbyshire, we relish the civic responsibility this entails and the opportunity it gives us to develop long-term collaborative relationships with businesses, our regional funding and support agencies, and government.
“It gives businesses the chance to benefit not only from the funding we can provide access to, but also from the resources and expertise we can offer to support research and development which helps to make our business community more competitive and our region more prosperous.”
