NCUB

NCUB is an independent, not for profit, membership organisation that places equal value on the needs and expectations of both businesses and universities. NCUB enables business access to cutting-edge university research and talent and helps universities to commercialise their innovations through industry partnerships and connects our members with government to help improve systems and policies to unlock greater success.   

We achieve this by:  

  • Shaping policy, strategy and practices through collective impact  
  • Fostering dynamic forums for thought-provoking debate  
  • Delivering robust evidence and insights that drive informed decisions  
  • Enabling connections through our digital brokerage tool, konfer  

Our mission is to unite policymakers, businesses, and universities in driving a prosperous future by harnessing the power of education, research, and innovation. Together, we aim to create solutions that inspire progress, ignite new opportunities, and shape a thriving, sustainable tomorrow.  


Latest reports

State of the relationship report 2025

This report from UK think tank NCUB looks at the evidence on collaboration between universities and businesses. NCUB’s annual State of the Relationship report is an evidence tool to strengthen collaboration between universities and businesses. It offers important insights into the scale and nature of interactions between universities and businesses, identifying patterns and trends over...

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From ambition to advantage

This report from UK think tank NCUB explores unlocking the UK’s business-led R&D potential. Britain’s business R&D engine is losing power. Between 2021 and 2023, private investment fell by 6.3% in real terms, which means around £3.4 billion less was spent on business-led research and development. It was the sharpest decline among major economies, while...

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What recent policy announcements mean for Research and Innovation

This report from UK think tank NCUB looks at the key announcements from the Spending Review and Industrial Strategy. the Chancellor has pledged £86 billion on R&D over the next four years. But does this signal continuity or change? This briefing summarises key announcements from the Spending Review and Industrial Strategy relevant to research and...

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Unlocking innovation

This report from UK think tank NCUB provides a 20-year quantitative analysis on university-business collaboration. This report provides an analysis of university-business collaboration income in the UK over the past 20 years. The report highlights several key findings:  Income to universities from collaboration with businesses has increased significantly: from £900 million to £1.5 billion (62%)...

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Collaborative care

This report from UK think tank NCUB looks at how university-business partnerships drive medical advancements. In this edition of our ‘Showcasing Collaboration’ series, we explore how university–business collaborations are transforming the future of healthcare.  From personalised cancer treatments to AI-powered diagnostic tools, these case studies reveal how collaboration between academia and industry is driving innovation...

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State of the relationship 2024 

This report from UK think tank NCUB looks at the evidence on collaboration between universities and businesses. NCUB’s annual State of the Relationship report is an evidence tool to strengthen collaboration between universities and businesses. It offers important insights into the scale and nature of interactions between universities and businesses, identifying patterns and trends over...

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