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Fusion of research and innovation sees Loughborough excel in latest Knowledge Exchange Framework

Loughborough University’s success in working with business and commercialising its research has been underlined in the second iteration of the Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF).

The KEF, produced by Research England,provides a range of information on the knowledge exchange activities of Higher Education Providers (HEPs) in England, including their business partnerships and impact on local growth and regeneration. 

It groups institutions into ‘clusters’ of peers – institutions with similar characteristics such as how much research they do and in what subject areas. Loughborough University is in Cluster X, which is described as “large, high research intensive and broad-discipline universities undertaking a significant amount of excellent research”. 

KEF2, which was released yesterday (Tuesday 27 September), shows Loughborough is in the highest quintile – quintile 5, classed as ‘very high engagement’ – for Intellectual Property (IP) and commercialisationmeasured by licensing and IP income, and spin-out investment and turnover. 

It is also in the highest quintile for Working with business, measured by income secured through contract research, consultancy, facilities use and from innovate UK. 

This puts Loughborough above the Cluster X average of quintile 4 in these categories.

Loughborough also performs strongly in Local growth and regeneration and Working with the public and third sector, placing in quintile 4, high engagement, for both areas. 

Speaking about Loughborough’s success in KEF2, Professor Dan Parsons, the University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, said: “I am delighted by these fantastic results that demonstrate the extent, reach and significance of our knowledge exchange activity at Loughborough University. 

The dedication and hard work of our staff, students and partners is key to the outcomes surfaced in these results. Our fusion of research and innovation into one ecosystem will help drive and support collaborations and ensure that our work makes real world differences and impacts society in positive and sustainable ways into the future. 

An example of Loughborough’s success in working with business is its partnership Rolls Royce. Through its collaboration with the company, Loughborough’s fundamental research on aerothermal and combustion technologies led to a fuel burn saving in the Trent XWB aeroengine that equates to a reduction of 70 million tonnes of CO2 per year. The partnership, which started over 50 years ago, has led to the creation of the National Centre for Combustion and Aerothermal Technology – a global open-access centre of excellence delivering low-emissions technology for the aerospace sector. 

A demonstrator for Loughborough’s success in IP and commercialisation is Previsico. The University spin-out, launched in 2019, provides surface water flood forecasting enabling people and organisations to minimise the impact of flooding. Backed by Foresight Group and underpinned by two decades of research at Loughborough University, Previsico’s world leading solution is used by insurers, businesses, and government to reduce their losses as well as advancing humanitarian impact through a partnership with the Kenyan Red Cross.

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: PR 22/179

About Loughborough University

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2022 QS World University Rankings – the sixth year running – and University of the Year for Sport by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2022.

Loughborough is ranked 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2023, and 10th in both the Guardian University League Table 2022 and the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022.

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.

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