Business Engagement and Innovation

From consultancy in forensic archaeology to intercultural awareness training, BEI is firmly embedded as a core component of HASS activity, contributing to income diversification and delivering meaningful societal impact, aligned with he University of Exeter’s 2030 Strategy to foster a greener, healthier, and fairer future.

Our approach as a faculty is underpinned by four key objectives: enabling academic staff to cultivate impactful partnerships; fostering resilient collaborations at regional, national, and international levels; promoting an entrepreneurial and innovative culture; and expanding income generation through sustainable, non-traditional funding sources. This integrated approach supports both research and education, enhancing collaborative research, commercialisation, and external engagement. BEI also plays a pivotal role in delivering Degree Apprenticeships, Continuing Professional Development, and Executive Education, while supporting research impact and consultancy and contract research.

For those in the secure communities sector, working with us allows you to access over twenty years of invaluable research and connections. Our extensive network ensures that our research is cutting-edge and directly applicable to real-world challenges.

Meet your Pro-Vice Chancellor for Business Engagement & Innovation (HASS)

Read more from Professor Will Higbee Staff profile

Exeter Innovation

Exeter Innovation is a partner for transformative innovation. We harness the world leading research and education of the University of Exeter to create real and lasting impact, by working with organisations of all types and sizes on their innovation journey.

Creative Economy

The culture and creative industries are a £108 billion a year success story and key to the UK's prosperity, identity and global influence. Creative practitioners are also a driver of innovation across the wider economy.

Data Science and AI

In a rapidly changing world, data science and artificial intelligence driven technologies are critical to transforming the economy and addressing the challenges that society faces from the climate and biodiversity emergencies to ageing populations and food, energy and security.

Exeter Defence, Security and Resilience

Exeter Defence, Security and Resilience brings together over 200 University of Exeter academics from across all disciplines, University Institutes and Research Centres. This network brings together academics from metamaterials, human performance, CBRN and AI through to strategy, Homeland security and policing working at the cutting edge of defence and security research.