Industry partnerships are mutually beneficial collaborations between academic or public sector researchers and private organisations. These partnerships enable a unique combination of sector-specific knowledge and expertise, from deep understanding of fundamental science to ability to translate this knowledge outside the laboratory environment and apply it to real-world problems.
Benefits of industry partnerships
Some of the benefits of working with industry partners are:
- sharing and exchange of knowledge and skills
- access to different technologies and equipment
- ability for researchers to work with and be exposed to different scientific environments
- potential to support the development of innovative scientific ideas towards commercialisation
- potential to leverage additional funding
MRC role in industry partnerships
The Medical Research Council (MRC) works with industry through funding academic research, in universities and other research organisations, and through conducting research in our own research establishments.
MRC as a funder of research
Funding collaborative research between academia and industry
We do not provide funds directly to industry partners. We fund academic-industry research collaborations, when funding is available the details and assessment criteria will be on the UKRI funding finder.
MRC Industry Collaboration Framework (ICF) was developed to support industry and academic researchers entering cross-sector collaborations when applying for MRC funding. It clearly defines our expectations on the purpose and goals of the collaboration, as well as specific arrangements for the collaboration (for example, responsibilities, intellectual property, financial contributions, access to data and resources).
Enabling access to industry expertise and facilities
MRC collaborate with academic institutions and industry partners to enable knowledge and technology exchange. An example is the state-of-the-art arrayed Functional genomics screening laboratory, which has been set up as a resource available to UK-based academic groups, small medium enterprises and industry.
Supporting academics to gain experience in working with industry
MRC-funded fellowships provide opportunity for clinical and non-clinical researchers to spend a period of research in industry to develop collaborative networks and support their cross-sector development.
MRC research establishments and collaboration with industry
MRC-employed scientists in our research establishments directly collaborate with industry partners on a range of projects. More information on our research establishments and their industry partnerships is available on their websites:
- Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell
- MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
- Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator (NATA)
Industry sectors relevant to MRC
We collaborate across a wide range of sectors, engaging with large, middle and small companies within the UK and abroad. Some of the sectors relevant to our work are:
- app developers
- artificial intelligence
- bioinformatics
- biotech
- clinical research organisations
- diagnostics
- food and nutrition
- investor community
- medical equipment
- reagents
- pharma
- technology
Examples of industry partnerships
Active partnerships
Blue Sky Collaboration
Partners: MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology and AstraZeneca
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology and AstraZeneca support a range of pre-clinical research projects through Blue Sky Collaboration. This collaborative research fund started in 2014 and aims to improve our understanding of fundamental biology and disease via knowledge and technology sharing between academia and industry.
UK Biobank Imaging Partnership
Partners: MRC, Calico Life Sciences and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Foundation
MRC has partnered with Calico Life Sciences and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Foundation to advance the UK Biobank Imaging Project. The world’s largest longitudinal medical imaging dataset, the project is performing repeat imaging scans on 60,000 UK Biobank participants. The project will capture detailed multi-organ images to monitor changes in physiology over time. It will enhance our understanding of early disease stages and progression, particularly for conditions like dementia, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.
Past partnerships
Experimental medicine initiative to explore new therapies (EMINENT)
Partners: MRC, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), University College London, University of Cambridge, University of Glasgow, University of Newcastle and Imperial College London
EMINENT was a collaborative, cross-sector network between MRC, GSK and five UK universities between years 2015 and 2025. It allowed university researchers to work with GSK to access the company’s portfolio of live medicines, in-house drug development and bioinformatics expertise to support research translation.
The MRC and UCB Antibody Discovery Initiative (ADI)
Partners: MRC and UCB
During 2015 and 2019, MRC and UCB launched a collaboration providing UK scientists with access to UCB’s advanced antibody discovery platform (YouTube). This partnership aimed to accelerate the discovery of new monoclonal antibodies, enabling researchers to explore disease mechanisms and identify novel therapeutic opportunities.
Ask a question about industry partnerships
Email: Industry@mrc.ukri.org
Last updated: 23 April 2025