University of Bath
The University of Bath is one of the UK's leading universities, with an international reputation for research at the highest academic standards. We have a distinctive approach that emphasises the promotion of original inquiry and innovation in partnership with business, the professions, public services and the voluntary sector.
The University has had close links with industry since it was founded in 1966. Long before the majority of universities sought significant outside funding, Bath had close relationships with major companies such as Ford which has placed important research at the University for several decades.
Our research portfolio is currently worth in excess of £87 million and around 70 per cent of our 530 academic staff work in departments awarded a 5 or 5* rating in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise.
The University's spin-out companies and enterprise activities have also been very successful. Vectura, which is developing a range of inhaled drugs for conditions such as cystic fibrosis and asthma, was floated publicly with a value of £60 million.
The University is part of the SETsquared Partnership which was established to encourage enterprise, build new businesses and work more effectively with industry. With a combined research staff of 6,400 and research budgets of £266 million it is the largest such collaboration in the UK.
As an indication of the University's links with business:
- More than 2,500 organisations accept the majority of our students on year-long placements as part of their four-year degrees.
- Over 140 companies work with the University on major research programmes, such as work to cut pollution from diesel engines.
- Our researchers have created successful 'spin-out' companies such as Atlas Genetics which has developed a way of analysing DNA from blood or urine samples within 20 minutes.
- Our School of Management is one of the highest-rated business schools in Europe.
- Our innovation centre in Bath provides hands-on support and expertise to new technology enterprises to accelerate their rate of growth.
Examples of key research areas include:
- Complex Systems - A major programme to develop systematic analytical and numerical tools to tackle fundamental problems in complex systems in disciplines including mathematics, biology, engineering and physics.
- Drug Development - The development of novel therapeutic approaches using steroids and related molecules mainly in the areas of cancer treatments, women's health, diabetes and hormone-associated diseases.
- Embryonic development and regeneration - To further knowledge of how a highly structured organism can be formed from a simple egg, leading to a better understanding of the causes of human malformations.
- Energy - The University is involved in six multi-million pound consortia carrying out research in the engineering and science of sustainable power generation and supply.
- Innovative Manufacturing - The objective is to conduct high quality research into the design, manufacture and management of processes, machines and systems focusing on:
# the design tools of responsive, agile machines and manufacturing processes.
# agility, lean manufacturing processes and supply networks.
- Wellbeing & Development - The study of poverty, inequality and the quality of life in developing countries. Current research aims to develop a coherent way to understand wellbeing in specific developing societies.
Services to businesses available through the University include:
- Providing expert advice,
- Performing contract research and development,
- Generating new product and process ideas,
- Analytical testing and evaluation services,
- Assistance in innovating business processes through people,
- Market analysis and auditing new technologies,
- Delivering short course training and development,
- Providing expert witness services.
For further information contact:
Paula McGrane
P.M.McGrane@bath.ac.uk
Gateway Administrator
Research and Innovation Services, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY
Tel: +44 (0) 1225 383555
http://www.bath.ac.uk/researchandinnovation/