About Research & Knowledge Transfer

Research & Knowledge Transfer (RKT) supports all research and knowledge transfer activities at the University of Exeter. Whether you are a researcher looking for assistance with a grant application, a business looking to collaborate with academic expertise on a particular project, or anyone else interested in research & knowledge transfer activity at the University, you should contact RKT.

The services and activities we coordinate include:

• work on large-scale collaborative research initiatives, specialist research contracts, and commercial projects;
• we coordinate the University’s links with business and stakeholders such as the UK research councils, major funders, and project partners;
• we manage the University’s RKT strategy and linked investments such as the science strategy, and we ensure that the University’s research and KT performance meets benchmarked targets;
• we run events and networks across all sectors and parts of the University;
• we are the first point of contact for all information regarding the University's research and knowledge transfer activities.

Project opportunities

RKT provides intelligence and early warning of new initiatives, national and international developments and the priorities of the major funding bodies.

Project Management

In 2009-10 we worked on over 500 projects worth over £150m.  We offer a project management service for all academic schools and their partners to help them develop and handle large-scale collaborations particularly across disciplines and different funding bodies. We also help schools with proposals and support for EU-funded projects , international projects, contract research , collaborative studentships, and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.

Commercial partnerships

We help structure and manage commercial partnerships, joint ventures and commercial consultancy.   We also manage the University’s intellectual property policy and have specialist development capabilities for the exploitation of intellectual property.  We have a range of strategic partners who can introduce funding and development partners to help launch new ideas.  The University’s own commercial companies, Exeter Enterprises and University of Exeter in Cornwall Enterprises are run by RKT.

Business and other partners

The University undertakes around 1000 projects with businesses, healthcare providers, local authorities and economic development agencies each year and our services for them bring in around £25 million per annum. We maintain the list of all collaborations and academic staff can gain access to information on our partners through us.

Find out more information about how we work with business.

Innovation Centre

The team is based at the Innovation Centre on the Streatham campus and in the Peter Lanyon building in Cornwall.

The recent addition of a second phase to the University’s Innovation Centre provides over 32,000 sq ft of office and laboratory space for knowledge based companies undertaking research and development.

Find out more information about the Innovation Centre.

RKT Performance

We manage the University’s RAE and REF submissions and coordinate the annual research monitoring process.  We also manage all the institutional risks relating to RKT and keep all relevant facts and figures on RKT performance.

Find out more information about how we monitor performance.

Research & Knowledge Transfer Annual Report 2009

We recently published our annual report.  You can download a full electronic version of the Research & Knowledge Transfer Annual Report 2009 or email us to request a paper copy.

Research Impact

Research Impact is a regular online newsletter for staff, students, and academics bringing you the latest news and research stories from across the University. We hope it will help you identify collaborators, spot opportunities and get involved with University events and networks.

To subscribe, please enter your name and email address below.  We can only accept subscription requests from members of the University.

More information >>

Contact us at our Exeter or Tremough office

You can search for a named member of Research & Knowledge Transfer staff by using the A-Z list.

If you would like to contact someone with knowledge in a particular area, please go to the Areas of Expertise list. This will also direct you to further information on the website in that area.

For maps and directions to the University campuses, please see our 'How to find us' pages.