Morning, Monday, 23rd November 2026
Online
This conference will examine next steps for knowledge exchange in higher education in England, including findings from KEF5 and practicalities in implementation of the UKRI’s Higher Education Innovation Funding policies and priorities 2025-2031 - which shift the programme towards an explicit focus on economic growth and introduce outcomes-based accountability statements.
The agenda will explore priorities for knowledge exchange policy, funding and delivery moving forward, including the direction of the KEF including how it sits alongside the REF impact assessment and HEIF accountability requirements. Areas for discussion include the evolving role of universities in supporting place-based innovation and regional economic growth, commercialisation and access to finance, business engagement and support for SMEs, skills and workforce development, and civic engagement and public benefit.
With HEIF assigned as a key intervention in the Government’s Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper and Modern Industrial Strategy - and with a review of the funding formula expected in the future - attendees will consider what this means for institutional strategy, investment, capability and delivery, the future development of the KEF, and how assessment and funding approaches can recognise the diversity of institutional missions, strengths and contributions.
Taking place amidst concerns around financial pressure across the sector, sessions will explore approaches to measuring, demonstrating and maximising economic, social, civic and cultural impact, and priorities for supporting effective knowledge exchange across institutions with differing strengths and regional contexts.
Policy, funding & the future of knowledge exchange
The agenda will assess priorities for the next phase of knowledge exchange policy and funding, including implementation of the HEIF policies and priorities 2025-2031 and lessons emerging from KEF5, considering implications for institutional strategy, investment, capability and delivery.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- KEF priorities: insights from KEF5 and framework development - alignment with REF impact assessment and wider accountability requirements - questions around funding and capability
- HEIF implementation: the outcomes-based accountability statements - future funding formula review
- funding and sustainability: leadership, governance and capability - financial pressures, resource constraints and capacity differences - demonstrating value and long-term sustainability
- institutional missions: recognising diverse strengths and specialisms - collaboration versus competition across the sector - supporting long-term innovation and growth ambitions
- impact and incentives: measuring and maximising economic, social and civic impact - international partnerships and innovation diplomacy - future funding models and incentives
Commercialisation, spin-outs & business engagement
Sessions will examine priorities for strengthening collaboration between universities, businesses and other partners to support innovation-led growth, and practical approaches to commercialisation, technology transfer, spin-outs, investment, and engagement with SMEs.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- technology transfer: knowledge exchange processes - strengthening pathways from research to application and adoption - intellectual property, contracting and incentives for collaboration
- spin-outs and start-ups: investor readiness and access to finance - scaling graduate projects - recommendations from the February 2026 Hickson review on Deepening university-investor links
- business collaboration: collaborative research and development partnerships - SME access to university expertise, facilities and innovation assets - industry engagement models
- emerging technology: maximising contribution of HEIs in development and adoption - AI and partnerships - productivity growth
Place-based innovation, skills & regional growth
Delegates will also explore the role of knowledge exchange in supporting regional growth and place-based innovation, and the contribution of universities as anchor institutions within local innovation systems.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- practical frameworks: collaboration with combined authorities, local government, NHS organisations and employers - the relationship with regional leadership
- innovation clusters and investment: the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund and planned devolution to mayoral authorities - regional investment priorities
- workforce development: addressing shortages and skills gaps - employer engagement and workforce development - alignment with Skills England and industrial strategy priorities
- inclusive growth: widening access to innovation opportunities - measuring local economic, social and civic impact - international engagement and partnership working
Civic engagement, public benefit & impact
Further sessions consider the contribution of knowledge exchange to public benefit, and priorities for demonstrating impact across institutions with differing missions amidst financial pressure.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- public engagement: public and community engagement - social value and societal impact - cultural partnerships
- public benefit: contributions to health, wellbeing and sustainability - balancing commercial, civic and public benefit priorities
- demonstrating impact: measuring local economic, social, civic and cultural impact - data, evidence and public confidence - supporting activity across differing institutional missions and regional contexts
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include officials from the British Embassy Berne; Intellectual Property Office; Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology; and The Scottish Government.
