Industry Engagement
From innovating new products to transforming service development, at UNILAK we forge collaborative industry partnerships that are driving real change for society, the environment and business. Many of our academics are involved in business-related activities, supported by dedicated account management teams. We work with businesses across a broad range of sectors, from small and medium enterprises to multinationals with a global footprint.
How we work with industries
From innovating new products to transforming service development, at UNILAK we are forging collaborative partnerships with industry that are driving real change for society, the environment and business.
Start and grow your business
We have a host of programmes to support you in growing your new business or established SME. Our teams provide guidance in multiple areas including: gaining practical advice on legalities, how to register your new company, support with business grants and support programmes
Train your people
We want your business to benefit from an upskilled, engaged workforce through a partnership with us. We offer degree apprenticeships, work-based learning, mentoring, management training and much more
Source Your Future Talent
Whether you're an international business or a local SME, we offer a range of opportunities for you to employ highly skilled students and graduates, on either a short-term or permanent basis.
Collaborate with our academics
Gain access to industry-leading expertise by collaborating with UNILAK’s innovative thinkers.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
We have a strong history of working in partnership with industry and delivering successful outcomes to businesses.
Commercialisation and Intellectual Property
We partner with multiple industrial collaborators who drive the innovations developed by our academics forward
Industry Research Engagement
UNILAK discoveries, innovations and inventions have potential for huge positive impact in the real world, if they can just reach the right audience and end users.
Businesses understand real-world problems and seek to solve them, if they can connect to the right scientific and technical experts.
Closing the research-industry gap can be a win for both sides that also benefits society in general.
Industry engagement includes a broad range of university-business interactions, and can lead to productive collaborations. It involves exchange of knowledge and ideas, to enhance capabilities and technologies. Industry engagement is a valuable (although optional) part of a researcher’s role at UNILAK.
Sometimes industry drives research: a business may have a question or problem that UNILAK’s experts can resolve through commercial research. Sometimes research drives industry: discoveries, inventions and innovations can be commercialised as new products or services. In the process, intellectual property (IP) may be created.
Funding opportunities
With the help of our Research and Innovation Office we will investigate suitable joint bid proposals where universities and businesses are eligible to apply for funding. This public funding, if successfully secured, can add to a business’s own funding, and that of other partners in the case of multi-partners projects, leveraging R&D budgets and answering research questions for each contributor.
Plan your business
To estimate, test and forecast your organisation development and manufacturing challenges, specialist facilities are often required, whether physical or virtual, such as sophisticated software modelling.