www.bradford.ac.uk/gateway/rkt-strategy/heif-funding/

Academics in Laboratory

This primary source of KT funding for the University will bring in around £6,000,000 of income by enabling Research and Knowledge Transfer Support to build-upon the University's existing KT activity. It will support the continued development of relationships with external organisations who make use of our academic expertise , and student and graduate talent to:

· gain advice

· carry out small and large-scale projects

· develop their staff

· access our specialist facilities

· exploit new innovations

· be nefit from our networks

As well as supporting our core business offering, the money will continue to help expand the work of the 9 Research and Knowledge Transfer Centres , introduced in the last round of HEIF funding, and provide key resource to nurture new RKT Centres by encouraging academic staff to work collaboratively and develop research with a strong alignment to industry and government priorities.

New HEIF initiatives include: expanding our international partnerships by working with the University's International Office and building on the already successful Science Bridges China Open Innovation programme; and better links between teaching and KE to give students more current industry knowledge and experience to improve their employability prospects.

The 2013 Research Excellence Framework , which assesses the quality of higher education research and determines our research income, will be heavily focussed on 'impact'. Most of our KE activity is underpinned by good quality research. HEIF funding will continue to help us strengthen the relationship between research and knowledge transfer across our 3 research and knowledge transfer themes and maximise the impact they have on the world.

In addition to HEIF funded KT activity, in November 2011 a new sustainable enterprise centre will be built on central Campus which will house research and development innovations, technology transfer, student enterprise and new business incubation. The project is worth £6m. RKTS are also close to signing a contract alongside 10 other HE institutions in Yorkshire to support research and development across all the institutions. The project value across all the institutions is £10m.

The University's KE work is delivered by specialist KT staff in the Department of Research and Knowledge Transfer Support, and Business Development and Commercialisation Managers in RKT Centres and Schools. Contact RKTS to find out more.