Higher education-business and community interaction survey

The annual HE-BCI survey examines the exchange of knowledge between universities and the wider world, and informs the strategic direction of 'third stream' activity that funding bodies and higher education institutions (HEIs) in the UK undertake.

About the survey

The surveys collect financial and output data per academic year. Results are summarised in the annual survey reports which provide information on a range of activities, from the commercialisation of new knowledge, through the delivery of professional training, consultancy and services, to activities intended to have direct social benefits.

These data provide invaluable intelligence for knowledge exchange practitioners and policy makers. The reports also provide an annual in-depth commentary on the extent of and trends in knowledge exchange activity in the UK.

The process is overseen by the HE-BCI Stakeholders group representing the wide spectrum of interested and involved bodies.

Data reported under 'capacity' and 'infrastructure' are a snapshot of the position at a set date (for 2011-12, 31 July 2012). In general two-year comparisons are presented in cash terms while a series of three or more years is shown in real terms.

Process

This is the fourth year data have been collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) as part of the Finance Statistics Return (FSR), the main source of financial information on the total activities of all UK HEIs. Returns should be submitted to HESA by 23 December each year. Survey data can now be obtained from HESA.

More on FSR and HE-BCI survey collection

2011-12 survey

Data collected for academic year 2011-12 show a continuing increase in the overall exchange of knowledge between UK HEIs and the public, private and third sectors. The growth rate – in cash terms – for the UK is around 4 per cent, from £3,302 million in 2010-11 to £3,431 million. Over the longer term income has risen – in real terms – by 45 per cent since 2003-04.

Higher Education - Business and Community Interaction Survey 2011-12 (HEFCE 2013/11)

Table of UK key data from the survey

Key indicators from the HE-BCI survey – 2003-04 to 2010-11

	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12
Collaborative research	652	623	683	746	758	778	782	887	871
Consultancy	254	263	277	321	364	353	379	377	398
Contract research	696	724	746	873	908	997	1,026	1,072	1,113
Facilities and equipment related services	96	89	103	104	113	117	120	131	139
CPD and CE	356	443	462	542	584	594	604	617	651
Regeneration and development programmes	260	244	260	296	259	183	223	207	180
IP (including sale of shares)	46	67	66	65	72	132	87	71	79
Total	2,360	2,453	2,596	2,947	3,059	3,154	3,221	3,362	3,431

GDP inflator applied to convert cash to real terms values at 2011-12 prices	121%	117%	115%	112%	109%	106%	104%	102%	100%

Outputs from UK HEIs	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12
Patent applications	1,308	1,648	1,536	1,913	1,898	2,097	2,012	2,256	2,274
Patents granted	463	711	577	647	590	653	827	757	826
Formal spin-offs established	167	148	187	226	219	191	273	268	191
Formal spin-offs still active after three years	688	661	746	844	923	982	969	999	998

% UK higher education institutions that provide:	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11	2011-12
Enquiry point for SMEs	n/a	89%	90%	91%	91%	92%	94%	92%	89%
Short bespoke courses on client's premises	n/a	78%	80%	84%	83%	84%	87%	84%	84%
Distance learning for businesses	n/a	66%	66%	68%	68%	75%	82%	83%	81%
Required contracting system for all consultancy	n/a	66%	68%	73%	75%	72%	77%	76%	73%

Source: GDP deflator from National Accounts figures (ONS 28 March 2012)

Previous surveys

HE-BCI survey 2011-12 (HEFCE 2013/11)
HE-BCI survey 2010-11 (HEFCE 2012/18)
HE-BCI survey 2009-10 (HEFCE 2011/25)
HE-BCI survey 2008-09 (HEFCE 2010/14)
HE-BCI survey 2007-08 (HEFCE 2009/23)
HE-BCI survey 2006-07 - (HEFCE 2008/22)
HE-BCI survey 2004-05 & 2005-06 - (HEFCE 2007/17)
HE-BCI survey 2003-04 - (HEFCE 2006/25)
HE-BCI survey 2002-03 - (HEFCE 2005/07)
HE-BCI survey 2001-02 - (HEFCE 2004/07)
HE-BCI survey 2000-01 - (HEFCE 2003/11)
HE-BCI survey 1999-2000 - (HEFCE 01/68)

Further information

HEFCE has also liaised with other parties active in the field of third stream metrics and indicators. These include:

AURIL/UNICO/NUBS (commercialisation survey)
AUTM, ProTon Europe, ASTP, EC (international)
Russell Group/SPRU (conceptual framework study)
CI-HE/Salford University (benchmarking work)
SFC (knowledge transfer metrics work)
RCUK, especially AHRC (social, civic and cultural indicators).

For more information contact Adrian Day tel 0117 931 7428, e-mail a.day@hefce.ac.uk.

Stakeholders

Alice Frost (Chair)	Higher Education Funding Council for England
Catherine Benfield	Higher Education Statistics Agency
David Cairncross	Confederation of British Industry
Rosa Fernandez	Department for Business, Innovation, and Skills
Hazel McGraw	Scottish Funding Council
Boyd McDowell	Department for Employment and Learning
Alisa Miller	GuildHE
Carolyn Reeve	Department for Business, Innovation, and Skills
Julie Tam	Universities UK
Alyson Thomas	Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
Officers
Adrian Day	Senior Higher Education Policy Adviser, HEFCE
John Halsall	Analyst, HEFCE