UCL CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS REVIEW 2014/2015
ABOUT UCL Described by The Sunday Times as ‘an intellectual powerhouse with a world-class reputation’, UCL is consistently ranked in the top three universities in the UK, and in the top ten universities worldwide. UCL is recognised for world-leading research, with 29 Nobel Prize winners across sciences and the arts. These include Sir Charles K. Kao, who pioneered the use of fibre optics in telecommunications; Sir William Ramsay, who discovered the noble gases; and Francis Crick, who co-discovered the structure of the DNA molecule. Founded in 1826, University College London is boldly innovative: it was the first English university to welcome students of any race or religion, and led the country in 1878, in enrolling women on equal terms as men. It established the first Chemistry Department in the UK in 1828, the first Chair of Civil Engineering in 1841, and was responsible for groundbreaking scientific discoveries and medical advances throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries. UCL continues to expand and excel, with an annual income exceeding £1 billion per annum and 30,000 staff and students competitively recruited from all over the world. As part of the university’s growing London estate, UCL has recently invested, as a founding academic partner, in the largest Centre for Medical Research and Innovation in Europe, The Francis Crick Institute.
UCL CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS The Corporate Partnerships team develops and manages UCL’s successful, long-term relationships with the world’s leading companies. These partnerships deliver innovation and recruitment benefits to industry, enhance the global reputation and competitive edge of companies, and generate sustainable revenue and benefits to the university. Each corporate partnership is distinctive: a bespoke agreement, tailored to the needs of a specific company. We work closely with our partners to understand their immediate challenges and strategic direction; we facilitate discussion and provide access to relevant academic research, new technologies, thought-leadership and governance; we provide guidance in agreements, and take responsibility for communication and delivery across departments and faculties. The UCL Corporate Partnerships team is multi-disciplinary, with expertise in a wide range of subjects and sectors; we support partnerships across the full scope of the institution and across different company locations and jurisdictions.
CONTENTS 2 3 5 5 7 9 11 13 14 15 17
Foreword Global Activity Case Studies BHP Billiton Intel Cisco Elsevier ICANN EDF Other Collaborations The Team
“Using our expertise to develop shared solutions to global problems, by working in partnership with governments, international business and industry...” UCL 2034 Strategy Professor Michael Arthur UCL President and Provost
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FOREWORD UCL has a strong history of progressive thinking and innovation. It led British academic engagement with the modern world, through chemistry and engineering, pioneered inventions in electronics, internet development and computer science and continues to spearhead industry innovation. UCL was the first university in the UK to recognise the importance of collaboration with industry, forming relationships in the last 20 years with Cisco and BT, and establishing in 2007, the first institutional Corporate Partnerships Office. The value of UCL’s most recent high-profile partnerships with Elsevier, Intel, Cisco, BHP Billiton and EDF lies in the collaborative research carried out in funded Centres and Institutes. These allow academe and industry to explore multi-disciplinary solutions to the global challenges of future cities, sustainable resources, Big Data, climate change, energy and security. For our partner companies, these collaborations have enabled new insights and seeded technology breakthroughs, accelerated innovation, sharpened competitive edge and provided new ways of attracting and recruiting the world’s ‘top talent’. For our academics, these partnerships allow access to stimulating global networks and enable new pathways to societal impact. There are also many indirect benefits to research and teaching.
Over the past year, the Corporate Partnerships team has expanded with two dedicated Partnerships Managers to allow a broader coverage across industry sectors. This will also enable us to provide more support to existing strong partnerships in the Built Environment, Engineering Sciences, and Mathematical & Physical Sciences, and to explore new relationships in Arts & Humanities, Social & Historical Sciences and Laws. As London’s Global University, UCL reaches across the world through its exceptional research; through our work with global companies, we hope to achieve corresponding breadth, across diverse regions and markets. This document outlines some key strategic partnerships and highlights our areas of focus. Building long-term relationships takes time and commitment, and I am proud to show the excellent work that our academics and partners have produced. I am confident that with the expanded team and broadened coverage there will be exceptional partnerships to come.
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UCL reaches across the world through its exceptional research, and its three campuses in London, Australia and Qatar. Multi-disciplinary partnerships with global companies, across more than 400 locations, extend and enhance the impact of this research, across diverse regions, cultures and markets. Our partnerships allow us to explore solutions to the world’s complex challenges, through the key research themes outlined below.
London
Key UCL Research Presence* Company Locations of UCL Corporate Partners *As listed by UCL Global, August 2014: www.ucl.ac.uk/global/partnerships-collaborations/agreements
Big Data & Analytics
Smart Cities
Sustainability
Energy
Internet of Things
Space & Space Medicine
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Qatar
Australia
Advanced Manufacturing
Imaging Technologies
Publishing, Communication & Information
Art & Design
Linguistics & Languages
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Source: BHP Billiton.
Signed in June 2011, this dual-hemisphere partnership has established two research institutes, in London and South Australia. These are driving research into the complex economic, legal, environmental, technological and cultural issues faced by the resources sector, and provide a framework within which expertise from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres can be shared and innovative responses developed. Under the terms of the agreement, BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities, a charity established by BHP Billiton as part of its community investment programme, is providing UCL with US$10 million over a five-year period to establish the institutes, fund academic research, fellowships and scholarships and appoint a Chair in Sustainable Global Resources and a Chair in International Energy Policy.
INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES The Institute for Sustainable Resources (ISR) is a partner of the UCL Energy Institute. It was established in 2011, with US$5 million provided by BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities over a five-year period to support academic research, fellowships and scholarships, as well as a Chair in Sustainable Global Resources. Its primary focus is on sustainable resource use and green economy, but it also works across several disciplines to impact and direct policy and practice through public engagement. It is located in The Bartlett, UCL’s Faculty of the Built Environment, and works closely with the UCL Energy Institute. Since it was launched, the ISR has set up a Business Engagement Community to build a global collaborative research network, and is currently working with companies across a broad range of industries, including Jaguar Land Rover, HSBC, KPMG and Thames Water. In August 2013, Professor Raimund Bleischwitz was appointed as BHP Billiton Chair in Sustainable Global Resources. Professor Paul Ekins is Director of the Institute.
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CORPORATE PARTNER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2012
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Source: BHP Billiton.
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY POLICY INSTITUTE The International Energy Policy Institute (IEPI) is closely linked to UCL SerAUS (the School for Energy and Resources at UCL Australia). Based in Adelaide, it is the sister institute of the Institute for Sustainable Resources, with BHP Billiton providing US$5 million over five years to fund research and the appointment of a Chair in International Energy Policy. The IEPI’s work is also complementary to that of the UCL Energy Institute, focusing on exploration and production issues rather than the demand side of energy. The IEPI’s main research focus is on the issues surrounding investment in power generation technologies in areas where fossil fuels are limited. This work considers the effect of technical, legal, financial and environmental influences on power generation. It also examines the role that governments can have in energy investment, and the impact – both positive and negative – of being a resource-rich nation. Professor Stefaan Simons has been appointed the UCL Director of the International Energy Policy Institute and BHP Billiton Chair of Sustainable Resources.
Dr Andrew Mackenzie with former UCL President & Provost Professor Malcolm Grant.
“UCL offered us the best opportunities for partnership.” Dr Andrew Mackenzie CEO, BHP Billiton
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For caption, see lower left.
This triple-helix partnership, with high-level academic, corporate and government commitment, was signed at 10 Downing Street in January 2012. Intel, Imperial College London and UCL have together launched a dedicated institute to research sustainable cities and explore the environmental challenges of urban living. Intel has also invited UCL to participate in annual Intel programmes to provide academics with support in early career development, and help high-performing students reach their potential.
INTEL COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE CONNECTED CITIES Intel has launched a series of company-funded, jointly-led research collaborations between Intel and the academic community. Anchored at leading universities across the globe, these collaborations form the foundations for building research communities that each focus on a specific technology area. Opened in 2012, the Intel Collaborative Research Institute for Sustainable Connected Cities (ICRI Cities) is dedicated to exploring how technology can support and sustain the social and economic development of cities worldwide. With Intel researchers embedded in academia, the Institute aims to enhance the social, economic and environmental well-being of cities, designing and developing new technology to achieve this goal. Using London as a test-bed for cities research, ICRI Cities is focused on sustainability and improving infrastructure through the use of sensors and other devices, as well as encouraging social interaction and citizen engagement.
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Image above, top left: Back row (L-R): Prof. Martin Curley, VP Intel, CEO Intel Labs Europe; The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt. Hon. George Osborne. Front row (L-R): Prof. Stephen Caddick, Vice-Provost (Enterprise & London), UCL; Justin Rattner, Former CTO Intel; Edward Astle, Former Pro Rector (Enterprise), Imperial.
The research agenda is directed by four core themes, incorporating a wide range of cities research. The first, City as a Platform, focuses on scaled adaptive systems that will be necessary for the urban environments of the future. Harnessing the Invisible City looks to visualise and optimise forgotten resources and data flows for informed decision-making, while Enabling Connected Communities looks to use technology to enhance the lives of citizens. The final theme is Sustaining Sustainable Practices, which aims to improve resource management through technological intervention and behavioural change.
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ICRI Cities: Year One Annual Report 2012–13
Following a successful first year,
the Institute presented its report
at the Board of Advisors meeting
in March 2014. This document brings
together information about ICRI Cities, presents case studies of completed academic research and outlines planned future projects.
ICRI CITIES
YEAR ONE ANNUAL REPORT 2012 – 2013
.
game theory
to the management of
“In 2050 … cities will be highly representative of the demands of humanity. Addressing these demands will be at the heart of ICRI Cities.” Justin Rattner Former CTO, Intel
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The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. David Cameron at the launch of IdeaLondon.
In December 2011, Cisco, Imperial College London and UCL signed a multi-million pound triple-helix innovation partnership at 10 Downing Street. This five-year agreement will enable incubation, acceleration, research, demonstration and collaboration in London’s Tech City. A significant part of this investment is in collaborative research with UCL and Imperial in the Future Cities Centre, with key themes of Future Cities and Mobility, Smart Energy Systems, the Internet of Things and Business Model Innovation. Cisco has also offered US internship opportunities to UCL students, and UCL has been part of the Cisco Visiting Speaker Programme of Cisco CTO’s, Fellows and Distinguished Engineers.
FUTURE CITIES CENTRE The Future Cities Centre has now completed a successful first year of research, working closely with the UCL Energy Institute and Department of Computer Science. This complex, inter-disciplinary research in Internet of Things and Smart Energy Systems has delivered impressive new insights to Cisco: using real-time, spatiotemporal monitoring of comfort conditions requiring sensors, data management, data analytics, and development of building control feedback. The UCL Energy Institute has led on the Smart Energy theme, exploring the relationship between light and human comfort. With university researchers, Cisco has created two test-labs on the UCL campus to explore the effect of light colour on thermal comfort. Alongside this work, researchers in Computer Science have been developing technology for the Smart Energy team to collect data from these experiments. These prototypes have a range of capabilities, including measuring environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, and physiological parameters like heart rate. Computer Science has investigated requirements for Internet of Things devices and developed a real-time control system to allow for easy customisation and close integration of hardware and software.
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IDEALondon, 69 Wilson St, Shoreditch, London.
IDEALondon A key commitment of the partnership between Cisco and UCL was to stimulate entrepreneurship through business model innovation. This has led to the creation of an innovation “hot-house” in Shoreditch, established by Cisco, DC Thomson and UCL, and opened by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. David Cameron in December 2012. The Innovation and Digital Alliance (IDEA) is an accelerator programme that supports the growth of digital and media companies, with over £3.5 million to be invested by the partners over the first three years. It forms a major node of Cisco’s National Virtual Incubator, which is a sustainable public technology network, stimulating entrepreneurship by connecting physical sites through IT infrastructure. IDEALondon (IDEAL) offers training and business support to tech entrepreneurs, as well as consultancy, mentoring and funding opportunities. It is part of Cisco’s Big Innovation Gateway – a UK-wide series of initiatives that provide support and advice to start-ups - and is closely linked to IDEAScotland, a second centre established by DC Thomson, brightsolid, the University of Abertay Dundee, and the University of Dundee.
“By working together with UCL and DC Thomson, Cisco can support the Government’s objectives to drive economic growth through high-tech innovation and build a brilliant future for British entrepreneurs and the businesses of tomorrow.” Phil Smith CEO, Cisco UK and Ireland
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Rt. Hon. David Willetts, Former Minister of State for Universities and Science.
In December 2013, at a launch event attended by Rt. Hon. David Willetts, the Former Minister of State for Universities and Science, Elsevier signed an agreement with UCL to establish the UCL Big Data Institute.
UCL BIG DATA INSTITUTE The Government has pledged significant funding to make the UK a world-leader in Big Data and algorithm research, and the UCL Big Data Institute will support this goal. The partnership will explore new technologies and analytics in an academic environment, while addressing pressing issues around data storage, curation and consumption of information. Elsevier will support research in Big Data through this institute, funding projects and studentships across a broad range of areas, including improved search and discovery, performance metrics, and the theoretical foundations and wider applications of Big Data technologies. The new Big Data institute will complement Elsevier’s acquisition of Mendeley, a company which operates a global research management and collaboration platform in the heart of East London’s tech start-up community. It will also support the company’s recent commitment to build a London-based world-class web analytics group. Elsevier will establish a Centre of Excellence within the web analytics group under the direction of the UCL Big Data Institute, and co-staffed with UCL researchers. The company will also make their Big Data technology available to researchers, in the form of a high-performance computing cluster, opening up new research possibilities with many applications.
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UCL has a wide range of other research activities and joint initiatives within the broad and expanding area of Big Data and research analytics. To fully realise the synergy between these initiatives through the sharing of insights and resources, UCL is developing a Research Domain for “e-Research”. The university also plans to create a connected community, from particle physics to digital humanities, sharing insights into better use of large computational resources in research. The UCL Big Data Institute will be a key addition to this family of activities. The partnership represents a significant investment by Elsevier in UK science in terms of funding, the use of research data and large-scale systems for research projects. UCL researchers will work alongside Elsevier’s technology and analytics experts to develop their understanding of the use of Big Data, and aim to show the wider benefit and impact this technology can have on science worldwide.
“Collaborations such as the one between University College London and Elsevier are vital if we are to take advantage of the Big Data revolution and stay ahead in the global race.” Rt. Hon. David Willetts Former Minister of State for Universities and Science
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ICANN is currently enabling Internet users to create full web and email addresses using non-Latin scripts. In 2012, the organisation signed an agreement with UCL for linguistic expertise. The project is led by Chris Dillon, Vice-Dean (Enterprise) for the Faculty of Arts & Humanities, whose own research into how computers handle non-Latin script is of direct relevance to this work.
ICANN – the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, which coordinates the Internet’s addressing system – has been working with UCL to evaluate applications for new generic top-level domain addresses. As a result of this work, there are new addresses in non-Latin-based scripts such as Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese and Russian. This project opens Internet use up to a new global audience, and involves the biggest technical change to the Internet since it was created four decades ago, allowing users to express themselves in their own languages and scripts, as well as extending access to millions of new users. As the world-leading centre of linguistic expertise, with over 80 languages taught and a polyglot community of 30,000 users, UCL was selected to support this project, and has carried out the linguistic work necessary to enable this huge technical shift. UCL had a prominent role in the early evolution of the Internet, with Professor Peter Kirstein connecting the university to ARPANET – the US-based precursor to the Internet – in 1973. UCL went on to provide the UK’s principal link to the US throughout the 1980’s. This partnership will allow UCL to play a key role in the next evolution of the Internet, and continue its history of innovation in this area.
“The ICANN work has not only allowed me to explore new areas of research, but has contributed significant funding and reputational benefits to UCL.” Chris Dillon Vice-Dean (Enterprise) for Faculty of Arts & Humanities, Research Associate in Computing Linguistics, Department of Information Studies
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Peter Hofman, Chief Information Officer, EDF Energy (second from left) and Professor Tadj Oreszczyn, Director UCL Energy Institute (third from right), with UCL and EDF colleagues.
UCL ENERGY INSTITUTE The partnership with EDF has established UCL as a core partner of ECLEER (European Centres & Laboratories for Energy Efficient Research), EDF’s main energy efficiency research group. It also led to the launch of the UCL Energy Institute in 2009. The Institute has strong ties with EDF R&D, with academics regularly collaborating on research and engagement activities. It currently has 36 PhD students, and 37 academic staff, with a number of other affiliated staff from UCL and other institutions.
Established in 2007, the partnership with EDF has allowed the UCL Energy Institute to develop strong links with EDF UK and with the EDF Research Network ECLEER in Europe. The relationship has centred on collaborative research funding from the government’s Energy Technology Institute (ETI), with additional specific research and Doctoral Training.
Climate change is a major global challenge, and the UCL Energy Institute aims to address this issue, along with energy equity and security, through research into sustainable energy, education and policy support. There are six key areas of research, including buildings, energy systems, people and energy, policy and law, smart energy, and transport. Its research sits across all four of UCL’s Grand Challenges, posing questions and seeking solutions in human wellbeing, intercultural interaction, sustainable cities and global health.
”UCL is at the front edge of sustainability and has been very good at helping us understand the importance of decarbonisation. There is a very good cultural fit between UCL and EDF.” Vincent de Rivaz CEO, EDF
UCL ENTERPRISE
CORPORATE PARTNER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2011
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OTHER COLLABORATIONS
In April 2012, Arup and UCL renewed their partnership, originally established in 2009. Arup is increasing collaboration and training activities with the university in fields which range from sustainable development and engineering to behavioural sciences. UCL and Arup collaborate in joint research projects, which include eco-city planning and infrastructure, urban sustainability UCL ENTERPRISE & resilience and CORPORATE PARTNER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2010 virtual environments.
In April 2013, Dyson and UCL signed their first collaborative agreement, which focused on innovation in technology and design. The company is working with UCL research groups in Chemistry, Engineering and the Bartlett and is particularly interested in rapid testing of products in UCL’s laboratories, workshops and test-beds, which include the Institute of Making. The aim of this relationship is to inform innovative new products, that will make an improvement to the way we live.
In 2012, Atkins and UCL signed an agreement to deliver the MSc in Rail Integrated Design Management (UCL Civil Engineering) and a project and report on Future Proofing Cities (UCL Development Planning Unit) in collaboration with the Department for International Development. The company has continued to expand its interests in Urban Resilience across the Faculties of the Built Environment and Engineering Sciences.
UCL has a close relationship with Lotus Engineering and Group Lotus, which was founded by UCL alumnus Colin Chapman in 1952. In 2007, the relationship was celebrated with a high-profile Engineering Innovation event on campus. Clive Chapman, Head of Classic Team Lotus, organised an impressive exhibition of classic Lotus cars. Guests included Chairmen and CEO’s of the automotive industry in the UK and Germany, famous Lotus racing car drivers, designers and Lotus engineers. In 2011, Group Lotus, Lotus Engineering and the Chapman family sponsored the Colin Chapman Lotus Engineering Masters Scholarship.
“UCL is a true university, it spans Arts & Humanities through to Science and Technology, and that’s absolutely congruent with the way Arup works.” Professor Jeremy Watson Former Director for Science & Technology, Arup
“It is very important that there is a good connection and relationship between university and industry… to educate people and to commercialise ideas.” Dr Robert Hentschel Former Director of Lotus Engineering
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Philips has recently expanded its engagement with UCL beyond Life Sciences to other faculties, signing its first agreements in 2014 with the Faculties of the Built Environment and Engineering Sciences. Siemens is developing its relationship with UCL, which spans medical sciences to engineering. In 2012, Siemens installed the UK’s first integrated MR/PET system for pioneering research at University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre. In 2014, Siemens signed a research agreement with UCL Medical Physics and Bioengineering and the company continues to build engagement across Faculties.
Professor Oliver Heid, Head of Siemens Healthcare, Technology & Concept (left), and Professor Sandro Olivo, UCL Professor of Applied Physics in UCL’s Medical Physics and Bioengineering Laboratory 2014.
Lotus and UCL celebrate ‘Engineering Innovation’ in 2007, sponsored by Group Lotus, Lotus Engineering and Classic Team Lotus.
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Dr Brian Carter UCL Corporate Partnerships Manager (BEAMS)

Working with the Faculties of the Built Environment, Engineering Science, and Mathematical and Physical Sciences (BEAMS), Brian identifies key partnership opportunities, and is responsible for developing strategic relationships with companies across a range of industry sectors. Brian has a strong background in industry, working for both IBM and GSK. He has held positions at the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Institute of Engineering and Technology, and is a member of both societies. Prior to joining UCL, he was Corporate Relations Coordinator at the University of Cambridge.
Email: brian.g.carter@ucl.ac.uk Tel: +44 020 7679 9354 (Ext. 09354)
Jim Collins Corporate Partnerships Manager (SLASH)
Working with the Faculties of Arts & Humanities, Laws, and Social & Historical Sciences (SLASH), Jim is responsible for developing partnerships and relationships with cultural organisations and companies. Jim has extensive experience of strategy and new business development from both the education and private sectors. He obtained both a BA (Hons) Language and Cultural Studies and MA French from University College Cork in addition to an MBA (Higher Education Management) from the Institute of Education, University of London.
Email: j.collins@ucl.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0)20 7679 9355 (Ext. 09355)
Brendan Wright Communications & Support Officer
Responsible for the production of publicity materials and web content for the office, Brendan provides support to the Corporate Partnerships Managers across both BEAMS and SLASH, and helps to develop projects, with a current focus on museums and publishing. Before joining UCL Corporate Partnerships, Brendan worked in the Office of the Vice-Provost (Enterprise), coordinating the design of the UCL Enterprise Strategy. He completed a Masters in Comparative Literature at UCL, and is also an APM qualified Project Manager.
Email: brendan.wright@ucl.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0)20 3108 3273 (Ext. 53273)
The Francis Crick Institute is an ambitious project to create a world-leading centre of biomedical research and innovation in the heart of London. Named in honour of UCL alumnus Francis Crick, the institute will bring together the research capabilities and complementary expertise of the Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK, the Wellcome Trust, UCL, Imperial College London and King’s College London. Dedicated to research excellence, it will have the scale, vision and expertise to tackle the most challenging scientific questions underpinning health and a broad range of diseases. The Institute will also exert wider influence as a flagship and asset for UK biomedical science. The Institute, opening in 2015, is situated in the Euston corridor, in close proximity to UCL and at the centre of the MedTech triangle. It will provide a new focal point for the extraordinary talent and knowledge in the area while playing its part in the life of the local community.
UCL Corporate Partnerships University College London Gower Street London, WC1E 6BT www.ucl.ac.uk/corporate-partnerships
“UCL is the embodiment of the Enlightenment: the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. It has a social responsibility, which has been at the heart of UCL since the beginning. That is what I want for my business.� Vincent de Rivaz CEO, EDF