October 2025

Welcome back to the Developing Business-Aware Academics newsletter.

This month we are calling for early-career and post-graduate researchers from all disciplines to join us as we pilot a research-industry challenge networking event. We are also highlighting the work of our project partner, Cancer Research UK, with a case study featuring Professor Mark Cragg from the University of Southampton who shares his insights on how industry collaborations can take cutting edge research from the lab to the clinic. We are also pleased to announce a new partnership with Knowledge Exchange UK and we introduce you to two new members of the team!

Best wishes,

Alison

Professor Alison Truelove

Director, Developing Business-Aware Academics

University of Exeter

Knowledge Exchange UK partners with DBAA

The Developing Business-Aware Academics (DBAA) project has announced an exciting new partnership with Knowledge Exchange UK (KEUK).

KEUK is the professional body for KE practitioners working in universities, private and public sector research organisations to deliver social and economic impact through innovation, enhanced productivity and skills.

The partnership will highlight the importance of researcher engagement beyond academia and will focus on sharing best practice on how to support researchers to transform their work into action.

Stuart Wilkinson, CEO of Knowledge Exchange UK, said:

“Collaboration between businesses and research organisations is complex, requires teamwork, and is ultimately about people and ideas. As a result, it is a natural and strategic step for Knowledge Exchange UK to team up with the DBAA to share knowledge, exchange insights, and work collaboratively. I am genuinely enthusiastic about how, together, we can enable deeper, stronger, and richer collaborations that will benefit researchers and businesses to drive innovation and ultimately serve both the economy and society.”

Our latest case study features Professor Mark Cragg from the Centre for Cancer Immunology at the University of Southampton. Mark, who is supported by our project partner Cancer Research UK, spoke to us about how research-industry collaborations can take cutting edge research from the lab to the clinic. The case study includes Mark’s top tips for building partnerships beyond academia:

Say yes: be open to unexpected opportunities.
Persistence: the harder you work, the luckier you get.
Be nice: it costs nothing and building positive professional relationships may open doors in the future.

Read the full case study here

Team Announcement

This month we are joined by new colleagues, Helen Chapman, our new Project Co-ordinator while Ruby is on maternity leave, and Dylan Bouwer our new Project Support Officer. Welcome to the team Helen and Dylan – we’re very happy to have you both on board!

Upcoming events

Cancer Research Horizons Innovation Summit

We're excited to exhibit at the Cancer Research Horizons Innovation Summit next month, where we'll be piloting our Exhibition Experience initiative! Taking place on 18 November in London at the Royal Institution, this free, one-day event offers invaluable insights from industry leaders, networking opportunities with fellow innovators, and the chance to learn essential entrepreneurial skills.

If you are interested in trialling a DBAA initiative with your researchers, check out our networking brochure and get in touch!

Research- industry challenge!

If you’re an early-career or a PhD researcher, from any discipline, join us to spark ideas and explore industry perspectives in an informal and collaborative environment with engineering services company, Babcock.

From gently removing marine creatures from dock foundations in an environmentally friendly way to developing tiny drones with HD cameras as well as new ways to scan ships in murky waters and the unenviable task of unblocking submarine toilets! We would love to hear from you if you think your research could shed an innovative light on these challenges. 

Join us for a free online communications workshop on Wednesday 26 November @10:00 and an in-person introduction to networking and research challenge event in Exeter, on Monday 8 December from 10:00-13:00 including lunch.

Find out more about the events and research challenges on offer here.

Conception X

Conception X is Europe's largest community for entrepreneurial researchers. Their flagship programme supports aspiring PhD founders to realise their potential and create long-term impact.

Check out their upcoming events!

What we're reading

There's some amazing work being done across the sector to support postgraduate and early-career researchers to engage beyond academia. There are also policy and strategy changes that may impact what that looks like. Here are some of our favourite articles and most significant publications from the last month:

Research at risk: impacts of financial constraints on UK universities: as financial difficulties continue across the sector, this report from Universities UK and ARMA examines what the impact of those difficulties might be. Particularly noteworthy for us was the finding that “9% of institutions reported reduced knowledge exchange activity with businesses, and... 61% were either planning to, or considering reducing knowledge exchange with businesses in the future.”
How academics and ‘big tech’ can learn from one another: this piece from Harvard’s Steven C. Currall explores how the work culture in big tech companies differs from that in academia, and how that impacts collaboration. A great insight into how to prepare for and learn from different ways of working.
Civic Field Guide: the beta launch of this new guide from the Civic University Network and the National Civic Impact Accelerator gives some great insights into how to harness the power of partnerships with local organisations.
Forty-First Report of Session 2024-25: giving written evidence to the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, DSIT confirmed that UKRI’s updated strategies, expected “shortly”, will “pivot its programmes and budgets towards research and innovation priorities set out in the sector plans.” Be on the lookout for increased emphasis on engaging with the government's eight priority sectors through research.
Post-16 education and skills white paper: this month of course saw the launch of the government’s new white paper on education and skills. It once again affirmed that funders and universities will be expected to align their research and strategy with the government’s Industrial Strategy, and particularly with its eight priority sectors.

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