The University of Edinburgh has retained joint 1st position in the world for its contribution to Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure for a third consecutive year.
The Times Higher Education’s Sustainability Impact Ratings measure universities’ success in delivering the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. SDG 9 focuses on the need to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation.
The University is one of eight institutions to score 100 out of 100 for its contribution to this SDG. The factors deciding this result include a university's research, patents citing the university's research, research income from industry and number of spinouts.
Last year, Edinburgh Innovations (EI), the University’s commercialisation service, supported the launch of 64 staff and student companies, attracting £113m of investment, of which a third went into companies aligned to the University mission of tackling the climate and environment crisis.
Four of these companies were spinouts, including SeaWarm, founded by Professor Chris McDermott of the School of GeoSciences, whose heat exchanger technology harnesses natural warmth from rivers and seas to deliver affordable, sustainable heating and cooling.
Another spinout, Concinnity Genetics, co-founded by bioengineers CEO Jessica Birt and CSO Dr Matthew Dale, raised £3m for its AI-driven gene control systems that improve the safety of gene therapies.
Industrial and translational research projects brought in £113m of funding across the three mission areas, including future health and care and harnessing data, digital and AI for good. The University filed 172 patent applications and entered into 62 licences for its technology and know-how.
Dr Andrea Taylor, CEO of EI, said:
Our third consecutive year topping the ranking for industry, innovation and infrastructure demonstrates the thriving culture of mission-driven innovation we have here at the University of Edinburgh.
We translate research into social and economic impact through partnerships, licensing and company formation, aligned to our values and our three Research and Innovation Strategy missions. This accolade reflects the talent, ambition and determination of our staff, students, founders and collaborators. Thank you! ”
Towards an inclusive, regenerative University
The University published its ambitious regenerative sustainability strategy in March this year.
‘Regenerative sustainability: our pathway beyond net zero’ sets out the University’s plans to go further than minimising environmental harm, proactively restoring natural systems to benefit both nature and people.
The strategy includes proof concept funding for innovative climate and environmental projects.
The University also launched a new guide for those working with entrepreneurs to help them make their practice more inclusive.
The Practitioner’s Guide to Inclusive Entrepreneurship Support is part of the University’s commitment to the Pathways Pledge, to address women’s under-participation in entrepreneurship in Scotland and beyond.
