New figures from the annual survey tracking how universities work with businesses and communities paint a mixed picture. Headline findings from the 2024–25 data: Knowledge exchange income - covering the full range of collaboration between universities, businesses and communities - reached £6.1 billion - broadly flat in real terms and representing a 1.4% decline following last year’s modest growth. University–business collaboration income - a narrower metric, which focuses

Many businesses assume university collaboration is complex or out of reach. It isn't. Universities work with organisations of all sizes, across every sector, on everything from short consultancy projects to student placements. You don't need prior experience or academic knowledge to get started. NCUB's konfer platform makes it even simpler, connecting businesses with university expertise in one place. The first step is just a conversation.

How the Catalonia Trade & Investment agency is using konfer to solve Catalonia innovation challenges with the UK innovation eco-system.

New figures from the Office for National Statistics send an important signal about the Government’s commitment to research and development as a driver of UK growth and prosperity. Public spending on R&D increased by 9.2% in real terms between 2023 and 2024. Spending has risen through agencies such as UK Research and Innovation, alongside increased investment in public R&D across Civil Service departments, which grew by more than £1 billion since 2023. A notable part of that i

NCUB's konfer platform helps universities find and develop meaningful partnerships with industry. One of the most effective ways we support that work is through our Collaboration Clinics - practical, interactive training sessions designed to help university teams create collaboration calls that genuinely resonate with businesses.

Collaboration between businesses and universities in the UK is one of the most powerful ways to drive innovation, access cutting-edge research, and accelerate growth. Whether you’re an SME looking for technical expertise or a large organisation exploring R&D partnerships, the UK offers a rich ecosystem, but navigating it isn’t always straightforward. This guide explains how business–university collaboration works, the main routes available, and how to find the right partner e