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.

The first survey published in 2001 provided data on academic year 1999-2000. The tenth survey for academic year 2009-10 was published last year.

Data reported under 'capacity' and 'infrastructure' are a snapshot of the position at a set date (for 2009-10, 31 July 2010).

Process

This is the third 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.

2010-11 survey

Data collected for academic year 2010-11 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 7 per cent, from £3.1 billion in 2009-10 to £3.3 billion in 2010 - 11.

Table of UK key data from the survey

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

Real-terms income from all sources (£M)

       

 

 

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

Collaborative research

628

600

657

716

735

767

769

872

Contract research

669

698

718

838

880

983

1,009

1,053

Consultancy

244

254

267

308

353

348

373

370

Facilities and equipment-related services

93

86

99

99

109

116

118

129

Continuing professional development and Continuing Education

342

427

445

520

567

586

595

606

Regeneration and development programmes

250

235

250

284

251

181

219

203

Intellectual property (including sale of shares)

44

64

64

63

70

130

86

69

Outputs from UK HEIs

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

Patent applications

1,308

1,648

1,536

1,913

1,898

2,097

2,012

2,256

Patents granted

463

711

577

647

590

653

827

757

Formal spin-offs established

167

148

187

226

219

191

273

268

Formal spin-offs still active after three years

688

661

746

844

923

982

969

999

% UK higher education institutions that provide:

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

Enquiry point for SMEs

n/a

89%

90%

91%

91%

92%

94%

92%

Short bespoke courses on client's premises

n/a

78%

80%

84%

83%

84%

87%

84%

Distance learning for businesses

n/a

66%

66%

68%

68%

75%

82%

83%

Required contracting system for all consultancy

n/a

66%

68%

73%

75%

72%

77%

76%

Source: 2003-04 to 2007-08 HEFCE HE-BCI collection and 2008-09 to 2010-11 HESA Finance Statistical Return collection: HE-BCI

 

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

Real terms values calculated using the following GDP inflators applied to monetary values using academic year 2010-11 as base

119%

116%

113%

110%

107%

105%

103%

100%

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

Previous surveys

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 John Halsall, tel 0117 931 7478, e-mail j.halsall@hefce.ac.uk, or Paul Hazell tel 0117 931 7452, e-mail p.hazell@hefce.ac.uk.

 

Page last updated 25 July 2012

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