Data and metrics serve as the foundation of Research England’s Knowledge Exchange formula funding and policy work. They are instrumental across various facets of our operations, including:
- allocating performance-based formula funding, notably through Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF), where metrics such as income are indicators of impact from knowledge exchange activities
- the Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) which uses metrics to assess and benchmark a wide array of knowledge exchange activities, and aids in understanding performance across institutions and facilitating improvements in knowledge exchange practices
- additionally, longitudinal data from the Higher Education Business and Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey, which allows us to track sector-level knowledge exchange activities over time, and is essential for informing policy and demonstrating the impact and accountability of knowledge exchange investments
We are continuously striving to enhance the quality and breadth of metrics and data that are available to us.
Our ongoing efforts as part of our national development programme for knowledge exchange metrics are crucial in this regard. They help us evolve our funding models and policy frameworks, ensuring they remain robust and responsive to the dynamic landscape of knowledge exchange.
The following section provides an overview of this programme of work as well as of our utilisation data currently collected in the HE-BCI survey.
National development programme for knowledge exchange metrics
This Research England programme, initiated in 2023, aims to design and deliver new and improved data, evidence and metrics of knowledge exchange activity of higher education providers (HEPs).
This programme of work is critical for delivering improved metrics for use in HEIF and the KEF, and for enhancing overall understanding of sector knowledge exchange activities as part of Research England’s wider systems role.
By using robust and comprehensive data, we ensure that public funding is effectively distributed and utilised to foster a dynamic and healthy knowledge exchange system.
The programme of work includes both conceptual and practical aspects. It involves defining a metrics framework to better capture the breadth and impact of knowledge exchange activities, while exploring the potential to move beyond traditional income measures. It also includes the design of new data fields and approaches to data collection.
The initial focus of the programme is on delivering new metrics in specific areas of knowledge exchange:
- spin-outs data and evidence
- regional economic growth
- partnerships and commercialisation
The programme is carried out in partnership with the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA, part of Jisc) and the University Commercialisation and Innovation (UCI) policy evidence unit at the University of Cambridge. In their role as national knowledge exchange metrics advisers to Research England, UCI provide domain expertise on knowledge exchange policy evidence and specifically commercialisation, including spin-outs.
This partnership approach is essential for delivering reliable metrics that meet user needs. It allows us to build on deep expertise and knowledge, using data that can be practically collected and applied at a national level across a diverse higher education sector.
National spin-out register
An early focus of the national knowledge exchange metrics programme has been on data development to better capture university spin-out companies and their success, in particular developing a national register of spin-outs. This is a response to immediate policy needs, such as following the 2023 independent review of university spin-out companies and government response (GOV.UK).
The Improving spin-out data with the spin-out register visioning report, published by Research England and UCI, sets out:
- the importance of the need for improved spin-out data
- the approach taken through the metrics programme to devise and design a spin-out register to date, including key characteristics of the data required
- goals for the second stage of work on data-linking, which includes making the data more available to all
The Higher Education Business and Community Interaction survey
The HE-BCI survey collects financial and output data related to knowledge exchange each academic year, and has been running since 1999.
The annual survey reports provide information on a range of activities, from business and public or third sector involvement in research, to consultancy and the commercialisation of intellectual property.
It also explores other activities intended to have direct societal benefits, such as providing continuing professional development and education courses, and providing cultural activities, such as lectures and exhibitions.
Research England currently uses HE-BCI mainly for two of our core activities:
- allocation of the Higher Education Innovation Fund
- delivery of the Knowledge Exchange Framework
Our use and analysis of HE-BCI data
The HE-BCI data collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA, part of Jisc) is available as open data on the HESA website.
If you have queries regarding the data, you can email HESA at liaison@hesa.ac.uk
Research England has published reports analysing the HE-BCI data, often focusing on activities related to intellectual property and commercialisation, and including high-level international comparisons.
If you wish to access archived reports from previous surveys, you can email us at info@re.ukri.org
Last updated: 26 November 2024