2024 - 2025 Sector Priorities
Welcome
Welcome to the Business Engagement and Innovation sector priorities for 2024-2025 that outline the University’s major initiatives for the academic year. Our mission is to deliver transformational partnerships that address the three themes in Strategy 2030 and provide innovative solutions aligned to national priorities, regional development and economic growth.
Exeter Innovation’s business engagement team pro-actively engage with businesses and organisations and provide a clear entry point for sectors where we have broad and deep research and skills capabilities. Each year we work on significant priorities that reflect opportunities in the external landscape, Faculty research agendas, and the interests of our partners. These plans are updated annually to reflect the changing context of innovation.
The business engagement team is interdisciplinary and works across the Faculties and Institutes with predominantly externally facing roles. Each team portfolio includes major university initiatives, corporate partner relationship management underpinning complex and significant investment programmes, focused business engagement support for networks of academics, and a range of education activities linked to external partners.
Brigid Howarth Assistant Director Exeter Innovation
Critical Minerals
Sector Lead:
Claire Eatock
c.e.eatock@exeter.ac.uk
Capabilities
> Research and Innovation
• Accelerating commercialisation of projects for domestic production of critical minerals, and expanding the associated industry cluster that is already operating worldwide to enhance mineral production
• Circular Economy for technology minerals
• Geothermal energy projects
• Equipment for mineral processing
• Deep Digital Cornwall legacy development: Datahub and visualisation suite
Partners
Key corporate partners
Anglo American
Babcock
British Geological Survey
Centamin
Debswana
Glencore
Imerys
Network Rial
Radioactive Waste Management
Rio Tinto
Regional
Cornish Lithium/British Lithium
Cornish Metals
Cornish Tin
Cornwall Mining Alliance
> Business, impact and partnership development
• Enabling sustainable resource futures
• Environment: metals, microbes and minerals
• Mining, environment and society
• Mining, geotechnical and safety engineering
• Ore deposits and critical metals
• Initiatives supporting skills for the responsible mining sector
• Geothermal energy
Cornwall Resources
Eden Geothermal Ltd
Southwest Powerhouse
Networks
Critical Minerals International Alliance
Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
International Council on Mining and Metals
International Raw Materials Observatory
Knowledge Transfer Networks
Maritime Research and Innovation UK
Mining and Metallurgy Regions of EU
University Initiatives
• Supporting the start-up, delivery and future financial sustainability and legacy of the NERC Critical Minerals Accelerating Green Economy Centre and UN Centre of Excellence for Critical Minerals, building on global reputation and reach of Camborne School of Mines, wider Department and Faculty
• Partnerships: Developing and progressing partnerships with RioTinto, Centamin, Glencore, Anglo-American, BHP, London Metal Exchange, Imerys, Teck and Prince Nehru University
• Supporting the commercial deployment, exploitation and integration of the Critical Minerals Equipment Hub with state-of-the-art mineral processing and hydrometallurgy kit
• Supporting the Great South West to realise the identified high potential opportunity of mining and critical minerals for the benefit of the region
• Potential NERC Critical Minerals Accelerating Green Economy Centre and Critical Minerals Centre of Excellence
• Met4Tech – Circular Economy Centre for Technology Minerals
• Critical Mineral Equipment Hub
Opportunities in 2024 - 25
> Policy drivers
• UK’s first Critical Minerals Strategy launched in 2022 and updated in 2023
• Alignment with Great South West vision in support powering the UK’s energy security as the country’s clean energy powerhouse and identification of mining and critical minerals as a High Potential Opportunity (HPO)
> External Funding Horizon
• The Government has launched a £15M Circular Critical Materials Supply Chains programme to focus on UK supply chains; made available £65.5M under the Accelerate-to-Demonstrate Facility for critical minerals technology innovation in developing countries; and committed £211M in additional funding to the Faraday Battery Challenge to boost R&D across the EV battery sector
• UK-Canada sustainable critical minerals research partnerships
Data Science and Artifical Intelligence
Sector Lead:
Dr Isabel Gonzalez
i.gonzalez@exeter.ac.uk
Capabilities
> AI for a fair society
• Data ethics and governance
• Responsible/ trustworthy AI and technology implementation
• Demystifying AI, data and digital transformation
• Transforming public sector services through digital means
• Misinformation and disinformation
> AI for health
• Machine vision for medical imaging
• Biomedical informatics
• Health economics for digital health technologies
Partners
Key corporate partners
Canon Medical
Devon and Cornwall Police
DSTL
Frazer Nash
IBM
Landmark Information Group
LV
Met Office
National Trust
Natural England
Ordnance Survey
QinetiQ
UK Hydrographic Office
> AI for sustainability and resilience
• Data ethics, governance and law
• Bayesian hierarchical statistics and modelling.
• Uncertainty quantification and analysis for decision making
• Risk / hazard impact modelling, including air pollution and health
• AI for extreme weather-event, climate systems, biodiversity and nature recovery
• Land use, soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) and ecosystem modelling
Government and public sector
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (including AI Policy Directorate)
Regional
Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Networks
Alan Turing Institute
Digital Catapult
Satellite Applications Catapult
Southwest Analytics and Infrastructure in Healthcare
Southwest Health Innovation Network
Tech South West
TechUK
University Initiatives
• IDSAI (Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence)
• Project ADA (Accelerating Data Science and Artificial Intelligence)
• INDEX (Initiative in the Digital Economy at Exeter)
• DIGIT Lab (Accelerating digital innovation for growth, impact, and transformation of large organisations)
• Defence Data Research Centre
• The Centre for Computational Social Science - relaunched 2023, focus on education and social mobility, Election Centre, Policing and terrorism
• Relaunch Environmental Intelligence theme – Autumn 2024
• Repurposing of Joint Centre of Excellence for Environment Intelligence to focus on collaborative projects with Met Office
• AI for Collective Intelligence (AI4CI) Hub
• Centre for Climate Communication and Data Science (C3DS)
• Utilisation / commercialisation of digital tools via Green Futures Solutions
• Professional Education:
• Taster events for data science training
• Short courses for executives on high level computer science (Large Language Models interfacing, computer vision, etc)
• Partner support for Doctoral Training students in Environmental Intelligence
• Implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Workplace
• Defence Data Research Centre’s Education Work package
Opportunities in 2024 - 25
> Policy drivers
• UK Digital Strategy
• AI Safety Institute
• Possible further Defence and Security Review
• Digitisation of courts and legal profession
> External Funding Horizon
• Advanced Research & Innovation Agency (ARIA) £800M over the next 4 years
• The Royal Society Faraday Discovery Fellowship (£250M)
• Bezos Earth Fund – AI for Climate and Nature ($100M)
• Accelerated Capability Environment – Home Office
• Defence and Security Accelerator
• Ministry of Defence Frameworks
>
Events
• International Imaging Congress, October 2024
• Relaunch Environmental Intelligence theme, Autumn 2024
• United Kingdom Imaging & Oncology, June 2025
Engineering
Sector Lead: Gareth Jenkins g.jenkins3@exeter.ac.uk
> Engineering materials and manufacturing
• Advanced materials for bioengineering and energy
• 2D materials, metamaterials and quantum technologies
• Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM), high performance polymers
• Engineering management
> Infrastructure and built environment
• Water systems
Partners Capabilities
• Energy generation, storage and application in buildings
• Structural and geotechnical testing and facilities
Key corporate partners
Babcock
Buro Happold
Celtic Sea Power
Coastline Housing
Homes England
Homes England
Laing O’Rourke
National Physics Laboratory
RWE
Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE)
Socius
South West Water
Tower Group
Victrex
Vinci
• Building performance
• Low carbon materials
> Clean energy engineering and decarbonisation
• Wave analysis and marine hydrodynamics
• Moorings and cables
• Operations and maintenance (O&M) strategies
• Life cycle analysis of offshore wind farms
• Environmental impact and biodiversity gain, sensors and tools
• Electrical power systems
• Smart grid networks
• Hydrogen production and storage
Government and public sector
Crown Estate
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)
Department for Transport (DfT)
Great South West
Ministry of Defence (MoD)
National Highways
Networks
Hydrogen Southwest
Maritime UK Southwest
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
SUPERGEN(s) (Offshore Renewable Energy, Energy Storage)
The UK Metamaterials Network
University Initiatives
• Engineering materials and manufacturing: developing commercial outputs from our testing facilities for high-performance polymers and alternative materials for efficiency and sustainability. Linking to Metamaterials initiative when possible
• Intelligent Buildings Programme to stimulate collaboration with businesses in the built environment sector
• Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) Opportunities Group: Interdisciplinary academic team working with Exeter Innovation to develop research opportunities arising from the Celtic Sea
• Supporting commercial development and opportunities from facilities and services:
• VSimulators
• Exeter Technologies Group
• Centre for Water Systems
• Centre for Metamaterial Research and Innovation
• Centre for Future Clean Mobility: Propulsion test facility, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled co-design in Engineering Laboratory (ACELab), Dynamic Marine Component (DMaC)
• Partnership activity on the GW-SHIFT PlaceBased Impact Accelerator Award (£2.5M), led by Bath University, to support regional research impact in the hydrogen economy
Opportunities in 2024 - 25
> Policy drivers
• Will hinge on new government strategies on energy, climate change and net zero transition, such as plans for Great British Energy
> External Funding Horizon
• National Highways five-year funding programme, £150M, 2025-2030
• National Grid Electricity Transmission funding programmes, 2020-2025 & 2026-2030
• Innovate UK Marine and Maritime Launchpad (South West UK Launchpad) £5M, 2025
• Innovate UK Global Business Innovation Programme helping to drive innovation and collaboration between UK and Canada in the Marine Tech space
• Maritime Accelerator for Sustainable Technology (MAST)
• Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) Public Buildings Decarbonisation Fund
• EPSRC Pre-announcement for £10M: 3D Nanoscale Metamaterials Hub for a Sustainable Future
> Events
• All Energy, Glasgow, May 2025
• Material Research Exchange 2025, Innovate UK
Environment and Sustainability
Sector Lead: Alex Huke
a.r.huke@exeter.ac.uk
Capabilities
> Business, impact and partnership development
• Climate systems and responsible climate interventions
• Food systems and nature recovery
• Environmental bioeconomy, marine and aquaculture
• Water systems
• Environmental intelligence
• International development and behavioural change
• Specialist capability via Green Futures Solutions in circular economy, life cycle analysis, nature-based solutions, and earth and climate systems
Partners
Key corporate partners
Arup
Cefas
Met Office
National Trust
Natural England
Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Rothamsted Research
Shell
South West Water
Wider Defra Agencies
> Research and innovation
• Environment, Water and Waste
• Carbon Storage
• Reforestation
• Marine-based carbon dioxide removal
• Decarbonising textiles
• Low carbon innovation and technology change
• UK Sustainable King Prawn Project
Green Futures Solutions: Industry pipeline
Barclays
Beyond Air
British Business Bank
Centre for Economics and Business Research
Hotel Chocolat
Howdens
Kenmare
Natwest
Skin Analytics
Socius Development
Sonova
Stratton Land
USS
Wyloo Metals
University Initiatives
• Development of an adaptive sustainable business model for Green Futures Solutions (GFS) and Network - continue building commercial products and services
• Continue to build the environmental intelligence offer around the Joint Centre for Excellence in Environmental Intelligence (JCEEI), linking to advance environmental intelligence activity in Accelerating Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (ADA)
• Support Exeter Energy, based on UEB Business Case
• Support Business Engagement and Innovation (BEI) development within the scenario planning for Penryn 2.0
• Support the setup, development and delivery of new programmes including Accelerating Action on Nature and Climate, Governing Sustainable Futures and the Climate Scaling Collaborative programme
• Centres and initiatives:
• Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW)
• Carbon Storage in Pasture through Ecological Restoration (CASPER)
• Net Zero Plus and ADD Trees
• SeaCURE
• Future Fibres Network
• Economics of Energy Innovation and Systems Transition (EESIT)
Opportunities in 2024 - 25
> Policy drivers
• UK Government:
• Net Zero Strategy (2050)
• Environment Act
• 25 Year Environment Improvement Plan including the Resources and Waste Strategy
• Green Finance Strategy
• Biodiversity Strategy for England
• Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution initiative
> External Funding Horizon
• GFS priority industry-driven investment focus
• Explore commercial and follow-on funding for impact focused research and innovation projects
• Increased Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) and Natural Environment
Research Council (NERC) funding and investment in ‘responsible climate solutions – uniting capabilities in Carbon Dioxide Removals (CDR) and Solar Radiation Monitoring (SRM)
• Explore funding and partnerships for a southwest marine-based Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Innovation hub (SeaCURE)
> Events
• Scope opportunities for enhanced future engagement in Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD) Conference of the Parties (COPs)
• Support BEI focused activity within planned highprofile University of Exeter climate conference 2025
• Support BEI engagement in external network, for example UK Universities Climate Network (UUCN), and Worldwide Universities Network (WUN)
Future of Business
Sector Lead:
Ben Clifford-Kitching
b.clifford-kitching@exeter.ac.uk
Capabilities
> Sustainable business
• Financing the green transition
• Emissions markets and carbon pricing
• Public finance solutions to climate change
• Private markets and impact investing
• Sustainable transition (across industries)
• Applying climate science to real-world situations Circular economy – evidence, tools, and methods
• Applications of digital technologies to enhance sustainability
> Responsible business
• Responsible leadership development
• Facilitating organisational change and developing talent for future leadership
Partners
Key
Amazon Web Services
Barclays
CapGemini
IBM
JO Hambro
John Lewis Partnership
JPMorgan
Lloyds
Michelmores
NatWest
PepsiCo
RBC
SLB
USS
• Creating fairer and resilient workplaces
• Creating purposeful work environments reflecting equality, diversity and inclusion values
> Technological transformation
• Measuring impact of digital disruption in business and society
• Demystifying modern technology, data and digital transformation
• Business applications including Web3 and platform-based business models
• Impact of digital technology on organisational design and management
• Responsible digital transformation
• Transforming public sector services
Government and public sector
Department for Business and Trade Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Networks
Chartered Association of Business Schools
Alan Turing Institute
Digital Catapult
Digital Leaders
Tech South West
Tech UK
Third sector
Ellen MacArthur Foundation
University Initiatives
• Sustainable business
• Exeter Sustainable Finance Centre
• Circular Economy Hub (until Jan 2025); Exeter Centre for Circular Economy; Digital Innovation and Circular Economy Network+ +; Digitally Enabled Circular Healthcare Innovation
• Circular Economy Deep Dive for Procurement professional education programme
• Green Futures Solutions
• Developing Business-Aware Academics programme
• Responsible business
• Exeter Centre for Leadership
• Leading Now prfoessional education programme
• Technological transformation
• Initiative in the Digital Economy at Exeter (INDEX) and DigitLab
• Artificial Intelligence in Business professional education programme
• Centre for Entrepreneurship
• Accelerating Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (ADA)
• Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (IDSAI)
Opportunities in 2024 - 25
> Policy drivers
• UK 2023 Green Finance Strategy
• European Green Deal
• 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
• Net Zero Strategy (Build Back Greener)
• Corporate Sustainability Directives (Reporting and Due Diligence)
• International Sustainability Standards Board
• UK Digital Strategy
• Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
• Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR)
> External Funding Horizon
• Identify knowledge exchange opportunities by offering solutions to significant skills gaps in industry. Demand from businesses include harnessing the potential of digital technologies,
bringing sustainability into the boardroom and embedding change through responsible leadership
• Identify opportunities and develop applications to funders including UK Research and Innovation; Innovate UK; Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA); Horizon Europe
• Examples of relevant UKRI themes include: Digital futures (EPSRC); Building a Green Future (all); Digital solutions (NERC); Economics of Biodiversity (NERC, ESRC); Business Innovation (Innovate UK); Creating Opportunities, Improving Outcomes (all)
> Events
• AI and Big Data Expo Europe, November 2024
• Financial Times Moral Money Summit, May 2025
• Reuters Responsible Business 2025
• London Tech Week, June 2025
• AI Summit London 2025
Metamaterials
Sector Lead:
Dr Isabel Gonzalez i.gonzalez@exeter.ac.uk
Capabilities
> Metamaterials and advanced materials
• Optical Metamaterials
• Acoustic, Fluidic and Mechanical Metamaterials
• RF, Microwave and THz Metamaterials
• Magnetic Materials
• Quantum and 2D Materials
> Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
• Process, modulate, transmit, store signals and data
> Energy and sustainability
• Harvest, store, transmit, save energy
Partners
Key corporate partners
Airbus
Atlas Elektronik
Atomic Weapons Establishment
BAE Systems
BT
DSTL
Hitachi
Leonardo
MBDA
National Physics Laboratory
Oxford Instruments Plc
PepsiCo
QinetiQ
Thales
> Health
• Wireless monitoring
• Targeted treatment
• Novel microscopy
> Security
• Protecting goods and people
> Design
• Multi-domain and multi-scale design
• Modelling and optimisation
Government and public sector
Department for Science Innovation and Technology
Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining Institute of Physics
Regional
Electronics and Photonics Innovation Centre
Spirent
Technical Composite Systems
Networks
Henry Royce Institute
UK Acoustics Network
UK Metamaterials Network
University Initiatives
• Building the case for internal investment into metamaterials strategic initiative
• Lead the support for application for the £10M Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 3D Nanoscale Metamaterials Hub for a Sustainable Future
• Support the development of the Materials Innovation Hub jointly with QinetiQ and National Physics Laboratory
• Development of a bid for a Ministry of Defence Regional Defence Hub
• Long-term opportunity for a partnership with DSTL for a Functional, Animate and Metamaterials Exploration (FAME) Centre
• Support the development of Professional Education in metamaterials
• Lead the delivery of the UK Metamaterials Network Plus
• Support engagement with National Physics Laboratory and Henry Royce Institute for closer alliance
Opportunities in 2024 - 25
> Policy drivers
• Institute of Physics Impact Project 2025: Developing Metamaterials and accelerating commercialisation
• Go-Science: Metamaterials Rapid Technology Assessment, and associated telecoms and compute emerging priorities
• National Materials Innovation Strategy (Henry Royce Institute)
• Advanced Materials and Metamaterials as part of Ministry of Defence Science and Technology Portfolio
> External Funding Horizon
• EPSRC Pre-announcement for £10M 3D Nanoscale Metamaterials Hub for a Sustainable Future
• Great South West Defence and Security Powerhouse
• DSTL funded Functional, Animate and Metamaterial Exploration (FAME) Hub expected to be £10M (Defence Materials Centre of Excellence (DMEx))
• DSTL Regional Hub
• EPSRC Strategic Equipment funding (with Henry Royce Institute)
• UK Research Partnership Investment Fund Research England hubs
> Events
• National Physics Laboratory meet Great South West, August 2024
• UK Metamaterials Network industry event at the Institute of Physics, London, December 2024
• Metamaterials UK Conference and Forum, May 2025
Biomedical Sciences
Sector Lead:
Dr Kourosh Norouzi
k.norouzi@exeter.ac.uk
Capabilities
> Neurodegeneration
• New tests to improve early diagnosis
• Finding and testing new therapies
• Innovative clinical trials
> Rehabilitation
• Biomechanics and falls prevention
• Experimental medicine and precision rehabilitation
• Access to cutting-edge facilities, including VSimulator
> Diabetes
• Preventing and diagnosing diabetes
• Precision medicine
Partners
Key corporate partners
Abbvie
Astra Zeneca
Biogen
Canon Medical
CYTOX
Eli Lilly
Life Molecular Imaging
Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC)
Moderna
Novo Nordisk
Randox
Roche
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Royal Devon University Healthcare Trust
Sanofi
> Genetics and genomics
• Making precise genetic diagnoses
• Discovery of new genetic causes of rare and common diseases
• Identifying new targets and therapeutics
> Clinical mycology
• Understanding the fundamental biology of fungal pathogens
• Patient care and translational science by discovering better diagnostics and treatments
• Addressing emerging antifungal resistance
Government and public sector
Devon Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Networks
Gene and Cell Therapy Catapult (CGT)
South West Health Innovation Network (HIN)
UK BioIndustry Association (BIA)
University Initiatives
• Building a network of external expertise in the Health and Life Sciences (HLS) Faculty
• Engaging with Professors in Practice (PiPs) and Experts in Residence (XiRs) in relevant areas to support academics in translating research outcomes into patient benefits
• Championing and facilitating translational and spin-out activities
• Commercialisation of HLS Facilities
• Supporting improved access to HLS facilities for external collaborators, for example VSimulator, sequencing facility
• Synergizing assets for translational impact: leveraging our infrastructure across the translational pathway to drive commercialisation
• St Luke’s Campus Development
• Scaling up biomedical and clinical research power
• Centre for Medical Mycology (CMM)
• Supporting the development of innovative one health solutions to tackle antifungal resistance as part of the UK Government's Global AMR Innovation Fund (GAMRIF)
• Industry research collaboration for vaccine and antibody candidate
Opportunities in 2024 - 25
> Policy drivers
• UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) strategic plan 2022-27
• Two of the five core themes are relevant to University of Exeter work in biomedical research: Tackle infections, and securing better health, ageing and wellbeing for everyone
• NHS long-term workforce plan 2023
• £2.4bn investment expanding education and training over next 6 years
• Increasing Medical School places by 60%100% by 2030/31
• NHS England piloting Medical Degree Apprenticeship in 2024/25: Ambition to have and 2,000 medical students trained via this route by 2031/32
• Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2023: Health in an Ageing Society
• Multimorbidity increasing: Medical science and profession must respond
• Research into multimorbidity, frailty and mental health needs accelerating
• Social care research needs to become core component of health research programmes
> External Funding Horizon
• Support new round for National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre in 2027 - expect double funding application and expanded research themes
> Events
• World Congress on Rehabilitation, September 2024
• Mycology 2025, March
• Alzheimer’s Research Conference, February 2025
• Advanced Technologies and Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD), March 2025
• Biotechnology Innovation Organisation (BIO) International Convention, June 2025
Life Sciences
Sector Lead: Dr Kourosh Norouzi k.norouzi@exeter.ac.uk
Capabilities
> Wider biosciences
• Engineering biology
• Stem cells and development
• Mathematical modelling of living systems
• Gene expression and genomics
• Medical mycology (antifungal drug targets, diagnostics, vaccine antigens and adjuvants)
• Microbes and phage therapy (using viruses to fight antimicrobial resistance)
> MedTech capabilities
• Diagnostic technologies
• Precision rehabilitation
• Digital health and immersive technologies
Partners
Key corporate partners
Astra Zeneca
Daiichi Sankyo
Eli Lilly
GSK
Medicine Discovery Catapult
Moderna
Randox
Roche
Royal Devon University Healthcare Trust
Sanofi
Government and public sector
Office for Life Sciences (OLS)
UK Biobank
> Biomedical and clinical research
• Neuroscience and central nervous system disease
• Neurodegenerative diseases (for example Parkinson's, Alzheimer’s, dementia)
• Rare diseases
• Genetics, genomics and epigenetics
• Target identification and drug repurposing
• Diabetes, obesity and metabolic health
• Healthy ageing and chronic disease
• Health data science and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Experimental medicine and clinical trials
Regional
Devon County Council (DCC)
Qantx
Regional NHS Trusts and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs)
Networks
Health Innovation South West (HIN)
Life Sciences Hub Wales
UK BioIndustry Association (BIA)
Third sector
Alzheimer’s Research UK
Diabetes UK
Genomics England
University Initiatives
• Healthy Futures initiative
• Streamlining the innovation process with a commercially driven approach; supporting commercialisation of Health and Life Sciences facilities and facilitating translational and spinout activities
• Attracting investment for the redevelopment of St. Luke's Campus
• Southwest Hub for Life Sciences
• Fostering regional collaboration and synergy
• Expanding collaborations within the life sciences ecosystem, including with the Biomedical Research Centre
• Dementia and mental health excellence
• Positioning the University and region as a Centre for Excellence in dementia and mental health research
• Engaging in the Dementia and Neurodegeneration Policy Research Unit and Dementia Network Plus; backing government priorities, such as the National Dementia Misson Ecosystem; supporting relevant research networks
• National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Healthtech Research Centres
Opportunities in 2024 - 25
> Policy drivers
• The UK Life Sciences Vision (2017-) Strategic areas relevant to the University's Health and Life Sciences Faculty:
• Better health, ageing and wellbeing; tackling infections
• Genomics, bioinformatics, engineering biology and data resources
• Vaccine discovery
• Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Mission (2022): Doubling dementia research funding to £160M a year by 2024/25
• Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2023: Health in an Ageing Society health and care
> External
Funding Horizon
• UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Strategic Plan (2022-27)
• Major infrastructure bids:
• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) /NIHR for dementia technologies (£6M)
• UKRI-NIHR : for net zero health benefits (£34M)
• Innovate UK XR Mindset for digital mental health programme (£20M)
• EU Horizon funding Program (€95.5bn)
• Supporting Biomedical Research Centre 2: expected increased funding and expanded research themes by 2027
> Events
• TechBio UK, October 2024
• Genesis 2024 London (One Nucleus Genesis Conference), December 2024
• BioTrinity 2025 - catalysing growth for the life sciences industry, April 2025
• The 10th LSX World Congress, London (Biotech. HealthTech. MedTech), April 2025
Living Well
Sector Lead:
Gemma Mendham
g.mendham@exeter.ac.uk
Sector Lead: Emma McBurney
e.k.seymour@exeter.ac.uk
> Mental health
• Brain and behaviour change and interventions across the lifespan
• Mental health and addiction treatment innovations
• Head impacts, brain injury and trauma
• Children and young people’s mental health
> Nutrition
Partners Capabilities
• Effects of bioactives and exercise on musculoskeletal, cognitive, vascular and metabolic ageing
• Integrative physiology, nutrition and training interventions
• Oral and gut microbiome
• Elite sports performance
• Food systems and healthy local food networks
Key corporate partners
Advanced Growers
Awakn Life Sciences Incorporated
Canon Medical
Football Association of Wales (FAW)
GaitQ
Met Office
Mitocholine
Nike
Quorn
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
The Racing Foundation
> Human movement science
• Physical activity and health across the lifespan
• Biomechanics, sensorimotor performance, skill acquisition
• Novel rehabilitation solutions to support patients with long term mobility problems
• Children’s health and exercise
> Health environments and communities
• Climate change and impact on human health
• Community and social inequalities
• Nature, biodiversity and health
Regional
Dartmoor Community Kitchen
Cornwall Council
Exeter Chiefs
Exeter City Football Club (ECFC) and Community Trust
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust & NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB
South West Health Innovation Network (SWHIN)
Third sector
Natural England
National Trust
Parkinson’s UK
Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS)
University Initiatives
• St Luke's campus development
• Health and wellness focus; scaling up biomedical and clinical research power
• Improving human performance and function
• Pioneering research and training centre supporting better ageing
• Improving human performance and function from childhood to older age and pushing the limits of human performance
• Establishing 6 state-of-the-art laboratories for exercise physiology, focusing on body composition, vascular physiology, dynamometry and cell culture
• Clinical Applied Psychological Practice Centre of Excellence (CEDAR)
• Training the current and future psychological workforce
• Facilities
• New facilities for food, psychology, and clinical research, including 2 virtual reality labs and a sequencing unit
• Drive research and education in climate change and impactions to social health inequalities
• European Centre for Environment and Human Health, ECEHH, a WHO collaborating Centre of Nature and Health
Opportunities in 2024 - 25
> Policy drivers
• UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Strategic plan (2022-27): Securing better health, ageing and wellbeing for everyone
• King’s Speech focus on Mental Health (2024)
• Improve mental health provision for young people
• Ensure Mental health is given the same focus as physical health
• Modernise the Mental Health Act
• Chief Medical Officer’s Annual Report 2023: Health in an ageing society
• Improving quality of life rather than longevity, maximising independence and minimising the time in ill health
• UKHSA Health Effects of Climate Change in the UK (2023)
• Evidence, analysis and recommendations based on climate change projections
> External Funding Horizon
• National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre
• NIHR Mental Health Research Centres
• UKRI Innovate UK – Diet and Health Innovation, Smart Grant, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
• UKRI BBRSC Improving health and wellbeing across the life course
• Horizon Europe Funding Programme
> Events
• Vitafoods, Barcelona, May 2025
• Care and Occupational Therapy Show, Exeter, July 2025
Optimising Patient Outcomes
Sector Lead: Rich Cassidy
r.l.cassidy@exeter.ac.uk
Capabilities
> Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning
• Validation of novel technologies
• Assessing technologies for clinical improvement
• Assessing technologies for enhanced patient outcomes
• Positioning technology within patient care pathways
> Education
• Devising and moderating imaging technology within clinical education themes
• Degree Apprenticeships and Continuing Professional Development provision for this ecosystem
Partners
Key corporate partners
Canon Medical
Fuji Film
InHealth
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Siemens
Government and public sector
Barnstaple Alliance Primary Care Network
Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Devon County Council
Devon Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
> Resource utilisation: Staff
• Delivering efficiencies within healthcare staff workflows
• AI and machine learning prioritising patient need within acute care
• AI and machine learning prioritising patient need within tertiary care
• Moving beyond the virtual ward to tertiary and home-based care
> Resource utilisation: Diagnostic workflow
• Validating the effect of novel technologies on patient care improvements
NHS Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB)
NHS Devon ICB
NHS Dorset ICB
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Networks
Peninsular Imaging Network (PenRAD)
Southwest Analytics and Infrastructure in Healthcare (SWAIH)
Southwest Health Innovation Network (SW HIN)
TechUK
The Deep Dementia Phenotyping (DEMON) Network
University Initiatives
• Accelerating Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (ADA)
• Cross-disciplinary powerhouse in data science and AI to provide collaboration opportunities in this space with external partners, with a strong Health sector component
• St Luke's Campus development
• Scaling up biomedical and clinical research power
• Great Western Secure Data Environment (GW SDE)
• Online platform for the analysis of health and social care data in research
• University of Exeter as a Centre of Excellence for Health Technologies
• National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Exeter Biomedical Research Centre / NIHR HealthTech Research Centre for Sustainable Innovation / NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Brain Health (with Kings College London)
Opportunities in 2024 - 25
> Policy drivers
• NHS Long-term Plan, Jan 2019
• AI is a key element in digital transformation to help clinicians to apply best practice, eliminate unwarranted variation across the pathway of care, and support patients in managing their health
• NHS Transformation Directorate
• NHS AI Virtual Lab is a community space for people to share knowledge and ideas about AI
• NHS AI Lab seeks to address the barriers to developing and deploying AI systems in health and care
> External Funding Horizon
• NIHR Product Development Awards
• NIHR i4i Connect
• Innovate UK Design Foundation – expected to reopen 2025
• Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare – NHS cancer programme
> Events
• International Imaging Congress, October 2024
• Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) and NHS: RCR Global A.I. Conference, February 2025
• United Kingdom Imaging and Oncology (UKIO), June 2025
Creative Economy
Sector Lead:
Dom Jinks
d.j.jinks2@exeter.ac.uk
Capabilities
> Screen and screen skills
• Equality, diversity, and inclusion in film
• Film business
• Creative writing and communications
• Digital impact: implications of data centres, including carbon footprint; gaming theory
• Online and remote performance
> Literary industries
• Publishing, including digital
• Creative writing
• Transmedia storytelling, including Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Gender and sexuality, including queer literature, ecocriticism and environment
• Popular culture and genre studies
Partners
Key corporate partners
Albert (film industry sustainability certification)
Arts Council England
Atticus Education
British Film Institute (BFI)
Creative UK
Faber and Faber
Google Arts and Culture
Meta
National Publishing Association
National Trust
Natural History Museum
RAMM
Tate
> Social science policy
• Social media, including political use and online safety
• Implications of AI, Intellectual Property (IP) and deep fakes on the industry
• Rural and semi-rural clusters development
• Behaviour change, and sustainability
> Digital humanities and heritage
• Digital platforms for heritage experiences
• Digital imaging
• Heritage data science
• Immersive for audience research, training, heritage, health, mining and astronomy
Regional
Devon Screen Logistics
Real Ideas
Screen Cornwall, Screen Devon
South West Heritage Trust
Tech Exeter
Torbay Culture , Plymouth Culture, Devon County
skills, Exeter City Council
Networks
Creative Industries taskforce (Cornwall)
Far South West Immersive
Immersive UK
University Initiatives
• Creative Industries Strategic Investment Case stage 2: Significant Business Engagement and Innovation (BEI) content, with full BEI strategy in progress
• Developing and expanding publishing expertise, with sector specialisms across Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS)
• Film distribution label, first film has been released to accolades, further expansion of the label to follow
• Creative Arc: this collaboration between Exeter City Council and the University is providing seed corn funding for academic and local creative organisations across the city; Creative Arc is also the host for the Exeter Heritage Volunteers programme
• Establishment of heritage archaeology as a commercial facility, working with Digital Humanities
• Establishment of a partnership with Greenway (National Trust) and the Christie archive at Exeter
• Level 6 Digital Marketer Degree Apprenticeship in Communications, Drama and Film
Opportunities in 2024 - 25
> Policy drivers
• Commercialisation of creative industries
• Increase in startups/spin-outs
• Devolution of creative industries with national/ international partners wanting regional presence and location
> External Funding Horizon
• AHRC Creative Industries Clusters: 6 creative industries to share £50M, to be announced 2025; regional consortium bid with Falmouth and Plymouth
• Publishing/Literary Industry development: Feasibility due to be delivered in Sept – Dec 2024. Potential to feed into Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Creative Clusters and Arts Council England Cultural Development Fund
• Heritage Archaeology and AHRC Mission Award
• AHRC Focal Award: Application submitted June 2024 with University of Reading, National Trust and the Natural History Museum
> Events
• National Westminster Event (MPs and House of Lords) working with Great South West partners with focus on Creative Economy. In partnership with Creative UK, Arts Council England, Spring 2025
• Creative Arc Showcase event/conference, June 2025
Defence, Security and Resilience
Sector Lead:
Colette Defoe (Defence)
c.defoe@exeter.ac.uk
Capabilities
Sector Lead: Sam Bull (Security)
s.bull@exeter.ac.uk
> Advanced materials and systems engineering
• Metamaterials, nanomaterials, acoustic photonics, quantum systems
• Autonomous systems, marine dynamics, reliability, sensor technology
> Climate change
• Global dynamics
• Sustainability, critical minerals
• Geopolitical instability and population migration
> International security and governance
• Foreign policy, conflict management, military strategy
• Law: International, armed conflict, humanitarian, space, cyber
Partners
Key corporate partners
Atlas Elektronik
Babcock
BAE Systems
British Maritime Technology
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
Devon and Cornwall Police
Frazer Nash
QinetiQ
Smith’s Detection
Government and public sector
Defence Artificial Intelligence Centre
Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office
Ministry of Defence (MOD)
The Home Office
> Human protection and performance
• Chemical Biological Radiological (CBR) defence
• Human performance, biomechanics, rehabilitation, immersive training and simulation
> Digital transformation
• Digital forensics and cyber security
• Data assurance, ethics, governance, exploitation
• Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, modelling, simulation, digital economy
• Organisational behaviour
> Homeland security
• Forensics and evidence based policing
• Counter terrorism, radicalisation
• Modern day slavery, crime, racism, social dynamics
Regional
South West Cyber Security Cluster (SWCSC)
South West Evidence Based Policing (SWEBP)
South West Regional Defence and Security Cluster (SWRDSC)
Networks
Academic Resilience industry Suppliers Community (RiSC)
Defence Battle Lab
Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Network: Security and Defence
Third sector
Chatham House
RAND Corporation
RUSI
University Initiatives
• Establishment of a University network for defence, security and resilience including website and events
• Develop and increase academic numbers responding to calls in defence, security and resilience
• Facilities: develop commercialisation income stream
• Large collaborations with strategic partners (QinetiQ and DSTL)
• Development of partnerships with Devon and Cornwall Police, Frazer Nash and Smith’s Detection
• Apply for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Metamaterials Hub
• Commercial forensics lab established, development and expansion over 2024/25
• Professional education, Digital Forensics Degree Apprenticeship, explore Pre-join Policing Degree
• Extension of Defence Data Research Centre, in partnership with DSTL
Opportunities in 2024 - 25
> Policy drivers
• Government commitment to spend 2.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on defence
• Global conflicts require accelerated research and development requirements
• Chief Scientific Adviser pause on new extramural research within 2024/5 financial year
> External Funding Horizon
• Metamaterials Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) and Hub: Ongoing effort to grow metamaterials in the defence and security sector and beyond. Attracting defence industry support for Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) metamaterials CDT and ongoing work towards attracting investment for a Metamaterials Hub: Centre of Excellence in generation after next materials
• Build and support cyber security focused PhD studentships and become a recognised Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research
> Events
• Hosting the Southwest Evidence-Based Policing Conference, Autumn 2024
• Strategy and Security Institute event series
Innovation in Law
Sector Lead:
Sam Bull
s.bull@exeter.ac.uk
> Law of violence, rights and testimony
• Use of force in policing
• Domestic violence, violence against women and girls
• Miscarriages of Justice Evidence Based lab
• Witness testimony
> Technology and AI, medical, environmental and cultural law
• Digitisation and the legal industry
• Productivity and efficiency in legal systems
• Regulation of AI
Partners Capabilities
• Corporate Social Responsibility
> Vulnerability and the law
• Human rights and democracy
• Migration and displacement
• Rural justice
> Family justice
• Parenting and relationships
• LGBTQ+ rights
• Family justice
• Family law and technology
• Children's voices
• Youth justice
Key corporate partners
Ashfords
Devon and Cornwall Police
Frazer Nash
IBM
M&C Saatchi World Services
Magdalen Chambers
Reed Smith
Trowers Hamlin
Government and public sector
College of Policing
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
His Majesty’s Prisons and Probation Service
Hist Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service
Ministry of Justice
National Police Chief’s Council
Office of Police and Crime Commissioner
The Home Office
Regional Citizens Advice Bureau
Networks
Accelerated Capability Environment Network
Devon and Cornwall Scrutiny Panel
Devon and Somerset Law Society
LawTech UK, Tech UK and Tech Nation
University Initiatives
• Law 2030; Business Engagement and Innovation (BEI) supporting reputation, partnerships, collaborative research and department income
• Enhancing the University’s Law Clinic
• Development of new Degree Apprenticeship programmes for Solicitor and Barrister. Engagement with legal sector to engage existing suite of programmes such as Senior Leadership DA
• Development of a broad professional education offering including AI and technology, cyber security and lawfare, digital copyright and defence and security. Evidence Based Justice Lab, miscarriages of justice. Development of a research and impact network building on the sector leading work exposing miscarriages of justice
Opportunities in 2024 - 25
> Policy drivers
• Access to justice – meeting public demand for legal services
• Digitisation of courts
• Changing of legal profession training to include practice
> External Funding Horizon
• Diversification of income via Home Office, Ministry of Justice, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and other government funding routes. Degree Apprenticeship opportunities
• Evidence-based justice lab, miscarriages of justice – Funding opportunities available to build on the Post Office scandal work and youth justice research.
• Law collaborating on other large interdisciplinary bids across other sectors including security and defence, computing and business.
• Exploration of law intersection with Artificial Intelligence (AI), Accelerating Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (ADA), Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (IDSAI) - AI and Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) research and product development opportunities
• Exploration of Law intersection with health/ psychology
> Events
• Planned engagement workshops with regional law firms to identify problem statements from industry
• Industry networking events, for example Ashfords and Trowers Hamlin in collaboration with the Business School