Announcement Marks New Collaboration Between Sector Body and Research Publisher
Universities UK (UUK) and Elsevier have announced a strategic partnership aimed at building a stronger evidence base on how university research contributes to the United Kingdom’s priority industrial sectors. The collaboration, revealed on 3 June 2026, focuses on the eight growth-driving areas identified in the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy, known as the IS-8 sectors.
UUK, the representative organisation for universities across the UK, brings its policy expertise and deep knowledge of the higher education sector. Elsevier contributes its capabilities in research data, analytics and insight. Together they will analyse university research activity across Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy Industries, Creative Industries, Defence, Digital and Technologies, Financial Services, Life Sciences, and Professional and Business Services.
Context of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy
The Modern Industrial Strategy sets out a framework for long-term economic growth through targeted support for key sectors. Universities play a central role in delivering the research, skills and innovation needed to realise these ambitions. The partnership will map patterns of research activity, collaboration with industry, regional distribution and alignment with national priorities.
Previous analyses by Elsevier have already highlighted the UK’s strong position in research collaboration with business, exceeding the global average. This new project builds on that foundation with sector-specific detail.
Objectives and Expected Outputs of the Partnership
The immediate goal is to produce new analysis that shows the scale, focus and impact of university research in each IS-8 sector. This will include data on collaboration patterns, strengths in specific disciplines and how research aligns with regional economic clusters.
Findings are intended to support policy engagement between universities, government departments and funders. A longer-term relationship is envisaged, allowing the analysis to evolve as new policy needs arise.
Statements from Leadership
Vivienne Stern MBE, Chief Executive of Universities UK, emphasised the importance of robust evidence: “University research is vital to the UK’s ability to thrive in a rapidly changing world – economically, socially and technologically. Through this joint project with Elsevier, UUK will develop a robust evidence base showing how university research contributes to the UK’s Industrial Strategy sectors and supports national priorities.”
Professor Sarah Main, Vice President for Academic and Government Relations, UK at Elsevier, noted: “Universities are central to the UK’s research and innovation ecosystem, and robust evidence is vital to understanding how their strengths connect with the Government’s priority growth sectors.”
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Implications for UK Universities and Researchers
The partnership provides universities with clearer data to demonstrate their contribution to national economic goals. This can strengthen cases for funding, inform strategic planning and highlight opportunities for deeper industry collaboration.
For individual academics and research teams, the analysis may reveal new avenues for impact-focused work, particularly in areas where university strengths align closely with sector needs such as life sciences or clean energy.
Broader Higher Education Landscape
UK universities have long been recognised for high research quality and international collaboration. Recent data releases from Elsevier and UUK have underscored the sector’s global standing. This partnership adds a practical layer by linking that excellence directly to industrial strategy priorities.
It also comes at a time when universities face pressures around funding sustainability and the need to articulate value to government and taxpayers.
Regional and Collaborative Dimensions
The analysis will examine regional alignment, helping to show how research activity supports local economies across the UK’s nations and regions. This is particularly relevant given the strategy’s emphasis on place-based growth.
Collaboration between universities and businesses is expected to feature prominently, building on existing strengths where UK academic-industry co-authorship rates already exceed global benchmarks.
Future Outlook and Next Steps
More detailed findings from the IS-8 project will be released at a later date. The partnership is described as an important first step, with potential for expanded work as the industrial strategy develops.
Stakeholders across higher education, industry and government will be watching closely for insights that can guide investment decisions and partnership formation.
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Opportunities for Academics and Administrators
University leaders may use the forthcoming data to benchmark their institutions’ contributions and identify gaps or strengths. Research offices could leverage the evidence when engaging with Innovate UK or sector-specific bodies.
Early-career researchers and PhD candidates interested in impact-oriented careers may find the sector mappings helpful when considering future projects or industry placements.
Connection to Wider Research and Innovation Ecosystem
The collaboration sits alongside other initiatives, including reports on UK research excellence and ongoing discussions about sustainable funding models. It reinforces the message that universities are essential partners in delivering the Government’s growth agenda.
By combining UUK’s sector-wide perspective with Elsevier’s analytical tools, the project aims to deliver actionable intelligence rather than abstract statistics.
