Business Units
Research Operations and Business Development
With almost 4,000 academics worldwide, working across a range of sectors, we are ranked 7th in the UK for our research power. We provide world-class research expertise in diverse areas. A significant part of your role as the Director of Research and Innovation is research funding and support across the University, enabling academics to undertake cutting edge research. You will help researchers identify and secure research funding and support them in the distribution of that funding over the duration of the project.
You will also be supporting researchers in identifying and securing private sources of research support, including business partnerships and sponsorships and you will lead on business engagement, identifying potential partners and building external relationships.
IP Commercialisation and Spin Outs
As the Director of Research and Innovation, you will play a key role in identifying potential for commercialisation of research as well as opportunities to develop new businesses from our research.
The IP Commercialisation team is responsible for developing and implementing the University's policies and procedures for Intellectual Property (IP) management, technology transfer and commercialisation of research outcomes.
In addition to in-house legal and technology transfer expertise, there are extensive links with external professional advisors and networks. The key objectives are to:
- Develop an income generating portfolio of spin out and licensing activities
- To use the management of IP to leverage additional research awards
Asia Business Centre
The University of Nottingham was the first British university to open campuses in Malaysia and China. With a unique foothold in these countries, we’ve been able to establish unrivalled partnerships with public and private sector organisations across Asia. Our Asia Business Centre (ABC) has a wealth of experience and an excellent track record of helping UK and Asian businesses build mutually beneficial ties.
The Asia Business Centre at The University of Nottingham supports innovation partnerships and knowledge-transfer programmes across our Malaysia, China and UK campuses and other offices throughout the region. It works with national and regional governments and with businesses to create new opportunities and manage ongoing links and relationships. It aims to demonstrate value to UK stakeholders through benefits to local and national economies, student experience and local communities.
The Research and Innovation team, together with the ABC helps establish research collaborations with public and private sector partners in fast-growing Asian economies. The Director of Research and Innovation works with the teams in China and Malaysia and ensures the relationships, internally and externally, remain strong and profitable.
Corporate Partnership
The Corporate Partnerships Team is responsible for the development and promotion of business engagement across several priority sectors. Working closely with a network of senior level contacts within business and other organisations, the Team maintains a customer-focused approach to facilitating dialogue with commercial partners. The Partnerships Team works effectively with the facilities, services and opportunities offered by the University to recognise and develop opportunities for businesses, nationally and internationally, with particular focus on corporate businesses. The Team aims to deliver an increase in our levels of engagement with corporate business, increasing our income from industrial and commercial sources across the full range of our activities.
Business and Local Partnership
The Business & Local Partnerships Team is responsible for the development and delivery of activity to support the exchange of knowledge between the University, business (in particular small businesses) and other organisations. The Team leads on relationships and proposal support to Schools for Innovate UK (formally the Technology Strategy Board), including the KTP scheme. The Team also leads on relationships with local and regional partners involved in delivering economic growth – this includes Local Authorities, the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and business organisations/networks, such as the CBI and East Midlands Chamber of Commerce. Funding for regional and local activities, such as ERDF, is supported through the Team. The Team also has dedicated Knowledge Exchange Managers for the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences – who act as an interface support role between these Faculties and wider BEIS support.
The Univeristy of Nottingham Innovation Park
The University of Nottingham Innovation Park provides first class office space and facilities for business. Located adjacent to the University’s award-winning Jubilee Campus, it provides a creative and dynamic environment where business and research can work together, sharing knowledge and sparking innovation.
UNIP isn't just office space - it's a uniquely creative and innovative environment where business and research work side by side.
The Graduate School
The Graduate School provides dedicated research support to postgraduate researchers and contributes expertise and guidance across the full spectrum of the University's research and doctoral training policies and activities. The Graduate School has a network of specialist staff who deliver transformative opportunities to postgraduate researchers wishing to excel in their chosen field.
The Graduate School includes award-winning training and development provision with over 150 specialist courses, a placements scheme, and researcher mobility funding. The School also provides five multi-campus graduate centres which offer dedicated postgraduate spaces for collaboration and inspiration.