The University of Edinburgh has retained joint 1st position in the world for its contribution to SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure in the Times Higher Education Impact rankings 2025.
The rankings assess the social, environmental and economic impact of universities, ranking their performance against the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
SDG 9 focuses on the need to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation.
Leading innovation
The University scored 100 out of 100 for its contribution to this SDG, including its research, patents citing university research, research income from industry and number of University spinouts. Eleven universities shared joint first place in this category, in which Edinburgh was the only UK university.
Last year, Edinburgh Innovations supported the launch of 127 staff and student companies, attracting £141m of investment. Industrial and translational research projects brought in £151m of funding.
Amongst the year’s successes, student startup MiAlgae secured £14 million for its sustainable omega-3 for fish feed, produced by biologically engineering co-products from the whisky industry. MiAlgae was also a finalist in the Earthshot global environmental prize.
Spinout CGEN Engineering launched with modular generator technology that can improve the efficiency and lifespan of renewable energy wind turbines, and Exergy 3’s high temperature industrial energy storage system was installed at Annandale distillery in the west of Scotland.
As part of its Research and Innovation Strategy 2030, the University launched a pioneering Innovation Career Pathway, formalising innovation alongside teaching and research in terms of academic career development.
Economic impact
An independent economic impact report in 2023 found the University supports more than 32,760 jobs across the UK. Researchers working with businesses and the public sector to address global challenges in the University’s focus areas of climate, data and health generated £350m for the UK economy.
Dr Andrea Taylor, CEO of Edinburgh Innovations, the University’s commercialisation service, said:
The University of Edinburgh has world-leading research, a track record in major therapeutics and life sciences spinouts, and emerging technologies in areas like cell and gene therapy, semiconductors and engineering biology. We also have the expertise to translate discoveries into world-changing innovations.
We do this by protecting and licensing our technologies, working with our industry partners and supporting students and staff to form companies to turn their ideas into societal benefits.
We recently announced the Innovation Career Pathway, a new route to career development for academics wishing to focus on commercialisation and engagement with industry.
All of this activity is helping us consolidate our position as a world-leader in innovation, and to find solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. ”
Commitment to sustainability and social impact
Through its Strategy 2030 vision, the University remains committed to embedding environmental and social sustainability across every aspect of its activities; from research and innovation, to teaching and learning and the University’s operations and estate.
The University has been recognised for its sustainability and social impact performance by the QS World Rankings (Sustainability), ranking 7th globally and 2nd in the UK.
New report on University's economic and social impact
