The Research and Innovation Office facilitates high-quality academic research through leading the development of research strategy and policy, ensuring compliance with research governance requirements, supporting researchers to access funding and form new collaborations, engaging with the development of research information systems and advising on the contracting process.
It oversees key strategic research partnerships with both public and private sector corporate clients to maximise their effectiveness and works with a range of stakeholders to identify and bring to fruition new research opportunities.
Our services are targeted in the following areas:
Research funding
Our specialist Research Support Service helps researchers to:
- Identify appropriate public sector funding opportunities (e.g. Research Council, European Commission, charities, government);
- Match individual project ideas to funding sources;
- Connect researchers with other researchers within the University and beyond;
- Provide guidance on preparing grant and bid applications;
- Support bid review and approval prior to submission for quality purposes.
Industrial research relationship development
The Research and Innovation Office's Business Partnerships Team co-ordinate internal management information on key corporate clients and support the development of academic-commercial relationships by:
- Exploring of further research and funding opportunities;
- Broadening of existing research projects;
- Connecting researchers with other potential business partners;
- Providing support for strategic industrial funding bids.
Knowledge exchange funding
The Research and Innovation Office hosts knowledgeable advisors who are able to identify appropriate public and private sector funding opportunities for researchers and businesses to work together, provide support for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) - from initial enquiry through to grant application and recruitment of KTP Associates - and facilitate knowledge exchange grants.
Research Excellence Framework
Our expert Research Excellence Framework (REF) Delivery Team provides researchers with advice and guidance on planning and delivering Cranfield’s REF 2020/21 submission, the consideration of research impact in proposed, current and completed research, as well as helping researchers to evidence and track impact, and advising on writing impact case studies.
Intellectual property (IP) and commercialisation
Professional advice and guidance is available for both staff and students on:
- IP and improving research opportunities;
- Patents and IP rights protection;
- Licensing deals/joint ventures/spin-outs;
- Incubation services for newly established companies;
- Funding opportunities for commercialisation.
Researcher development
Working closely with the Learning and Development Team and Human Resources, research and innovation staff provide help and training for researchers across a broad spectrum of activities, such as generating innovative research ideas, sourcing suitable funding, understanding what a quality bid looks like and improving bid writing skills, exploiting research for impact, and working with different stakeholders.
Research governance and the research student experience
The Research and Innovation Office is responsible for a number of different policies and as such provide authoritative advice and guidance on matters relating to research integrity and governance (including University law and relevant Senate handbooks), the University’s online ethics approval systems, CURES, and supporting improvements to the research student experience.
Cranfield University Incubation Centre (CUBIC)
The Research and Innovation Office manage the Incubation Centre working with aspiring entrepreneurs to help them develop their business.
