Oxford Brookes celebrates fourth consecutive high ranking in Knowledge Exchange Framework results

Oxford Brookes University has once again performed strongly in Research England’s Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF), an annual national-level assessment of how universities benefit the economy and society.

Oxford Brookes’ successful work in commercialising its intellectual property (IP), predominantly through IP licensing, but also through the setting up of spin-out companies, is ranked in the top 10 of English universities.

In the fourth successive set of Knowledge Exchange Framework results, Oxford Brookes was placed in the top 40% for working with the public and third sectors. One of the main contributors of this work is the Institute of Public Care (IPC) at Oxford Brookes University. For over three decades, IPC has combined academic excellence with practical expertise to offer consultancy, training, research, and evaluation services to address the complex challenges faced by the care sector across the UK. Whether it’s supporting children’s services, adult care, or health services, IPC offers tailored services that help organisations enhance their practices, solve critical problems, and implement cutting-edge innovations. 

Professor Joe Tah, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Oxford Brookes University, said: “This remarkable achievement is a testament to the dedication of our staff in fostering strong partnerships with external organisations, driving positive outcomes for society and the economy both locally and globally. I am particularly proud that, for four consecutive years, we have ranked among the top 10 English universities in generating income from our intellectual property.”

Examples of successful spin-outs from Oxford Brookes University include Oxford Expression Technologies Ltd which is using its virus-based protein expression technology to help global companies develop vaccines and diagnostic assays—used to analyse specific biomarkers for detecting or identifying pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria or toxins.

The University also works with a range of external partners. A recent UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Think Through Nutrition, a charity committed to unlocking the profound connection between nutrition, brain health, and behaviour, aims to enable prisons to provide inmates with a healthier, balanced diet.

The Knowledge Exchange Framework looks at seven areas of knowledge exchange. This year Oxford Brookes was placed in a cluster of 29 universities with a broad portfolio of expertise generating excellent research across all disciplines.

For more information see the Research England: Knowledge Exchange Framework website.