Why Partner With Us?

Whether you are a large corporate organisation or a small business, and whether you require a short term solution or have a long term project in mind, you can tap into the world-class expertise at the University of Birmingham.

Our five colleges, 3000 academic staff and leading-edge facilities can be accessed in the following ways:

Jonathan Horsfall

Director, Webster and Horsfall

“There are so many assets just down the road that you can get your hands on and that the University want you to exploit. Our collaboration with Birmingham has definitely influenced our strategy in that we have a much more positive attitude to R&D, in which we’re now investing 3% of turnover annually. If it wasn’t for our investment in R&D, then we would have gone to the wall.”

Contract R&D

Join forces with our researchers to work on your organisation's specific research and development needs.

Access to Funding

We can help you navigate your way through the various funding opportunities available and find you a suitable academic partner to work with.

Conferences and events

The University offers a complete event management service, with a range of venues, accommodation and catering to bring your event to life. Available venues include flexible conference, breakout and meeting spaces with built-in AV to outdoor venues for festivals, sports and live performances with a capacity of up to 10,000.

Visit the Conferences & events website for more information, or call 0121 415 8400.

Business Accommodation

If you are looking for office space to house your organisation, Birmingham Research Park on the University campus offers purpose built accommodation for companies seeking to work in research, development and training.

If you are looking for office space to house your organisation, Birmingham Research Park on the University campus offers purpose built accommodation for companies seeking to work in research, development and training.

BizzInn, also located at Birmingham Research Park. is a business incubator specifically tailored for entrepreneurs, start-ups and academics to help drive forward ideas and transform innovation to enterprise. 

The BioHub Birmingham is a brand new, fully serviced biomedical research laboratory specifically designed to provide entrepreneurs and innovative start-ups with access to affordable laboratory facilities and equipment. For a very attractive and fully inclusive price you can take a desk in a vibrant innovation office and a workstation in the fully serviced laboratory. As part of the package, they will provide you with full support in developing your innovative technology. 

Birmingham Business Club

A club for business people who are looking to network and exchange ideas with University of Birmingham academics and our business engagement team.

Club members receive invites to our regular breakfast briefings, where they have the opportunity to discuss topical business issues with experts from Birmingham Business School and other areas of the University.

Each briefing also includes the opportunity for members to make short elevator pitches to the audience. These four minute, quick-fire slots are designed for members to promote their new product or service, recruit partners for collaborative R&D or access peer support for their most pressing business challenges.

Objective Expert Consultancy

We can send you the brightest minds from a wide range of scientific disciplines to help boost your organisation's knowledge and resources.

Intellectual Property Licences

We have a varied portfolio of medical, biomedical, engineering and environmental patents available for licensing. So whether it's a life-changing vaccine or a piece of time saving technology, our intellectual property could become your company's crowning glory.

Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP)

Enter a three-way Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the University and a high calibre graduate to work on a project for a period of between 18 months and 3 years.

Collaborative Projects and Partnerships

We can work with you to develop strategic, collaborative partnerships involving other universities, businesses, public sector bodies, government and other funders to achieve a common and shared goal.

Some examples of our collaborative partnership opportunities are listed here.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

We can train your key personnel through one of our Continuing Professional Development courses.

State-of-the-art Equipment, Testing and Analysis

Utilise our state-of-the-art scientific equipment or train members of your team on a particular technique. Our researchers are on hand to offer technical support, problem solving and help with product development.

Student Internships, Placements and Graduate Recruitment

We offer a range of opportunities for you to promote your graduate and undergraduate vacancies to our students, from structured part-time work, internships and placements to graduate employment.