The University of Sussex continues to excel in knowledge exchange and innovation, ranking among the UK’s top 20% of universities (Cluster X) in four of the seven measures in the KEF 2026 results, released on Wednesday 7 October.
The KEF is administered by Research England and aims to demonstrate how English universities collaborate with partners such businesses, charities and the public sector and engage in knowledge exchange activities, from spin-outs and graduate startups to CPD and public engagement. Published annually, the KEF results show the range and strength of activities undertaken by universities that have an impact on society and the economy, locally, nationally and internationally.
Leading on partnership working and innovation
KEF performance for English universities is measured in benchmark groups (clusters) which include institutions with broadly comparable characteristics. Sussex has sustained its impressive performance relative to our benchmark group, cluster X, which comprises 19 large, research-intensive, broad-discipline universities. The University has exceeded the cluster's performance average in four critical knowledge exchange areas and is ranked in the top quintile for:
- Working with Businesses
- Working with the Public and Third Sector
- Intellectual Property and Commercialisation
- Research Partnerships
Working with businesses and the public sector through Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) projects, consultancy, policy engagement and social enterprise and commercialising our research through spin-outs and IP, Sussex is leading the way in knowledge exchange. Our academics and researchers produce methodologies and theories, policy and cultural insights, business models, and technologies that can help develop new products and services, improve policy making and shape society in profound ways.
Furthermore, Sussex saw an increase in the measure that addresses Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and Graduate Startups, bringing us into alignment with the cluster X average while we have maintained our score in Local Growth and Regeneration.
While Sussex maintains strong overall performance and is actively pursuing opportunities to draw national funding that supports growth and regeneration for our region, the results identify some areas for further focus. The University currently lags behind the cluster’s performance average in Public and Community Engagement, although it is important to note that the assessment of Public and Community Engagement relies on narrative statements that were written for KEF3 in 2023 and there will not be an opportunity to submit updated narrative statements until KEF9 (2029).
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Maria Fasli: “I’m delighted to see Sussex maintaining our excellent performance and outperforming similar universities in four of the seven areas the framework looks at, and matching them on CPD and graduate start-ups. These results enable us to shape our plans as we move forward with Sussex 2035: Creating Progressive Futures – flourishing, sustainability and progress for the whole world.
“Engaging in knowledge exchange and innovation enables us to amplify the impact of our research, strengthen our reputation and contribute to regional and national prosperity and I would encourage colleagues to continue to engage with businesses, public and third sector organisations as well as the public in embedding our research into society.”
Innovation at Sussex
Innovation is a key focus for Sussex, and in recent years the University has worked with more than 900 businesses and public sector organisations to collaborate on research and development projects, consultancy and facilities and equipment hire:
- Delivering 980 learner days via CPD and training to business and community groups
- Granting more than 50 licences to help companies grow using our intellectual property
- Working with our 180 live academic-led spin outs and graduate start-ups, increasing the number of jobs they sustain by nearly a quarter from 2024 to 2025
- Working with our home-grown businesses to increase investment in a single year by £24.2m in 2025
A further notable example demonstrating our sector-leading performance in innovation is the success of Universal Quantum, a University of Sussex spin-out in quantum technologies which has recently secured $100M investment through its Series A fundraising.
Our strategy, Sussex 2035: Creating Progressive Futures – flourishing, sustainability and progress for the whole world, provides for a future-focused culture of engagement with business and community partners. If you would like any further information about our results in this year’s KEF please contact Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Maria Fasli: M.Fasli@sussex.ac.uk.
Interested in exploring how your ideas can deliver impact through knowledge exchange and innovation? Explore the commercial potential of your research at The Entrepreneurial Academic workshop on 12 November 2026. Designed for University of Sussex academics, researchers and doctoral students, with Sussex Innovation, this taster session will help you identify, assess and prioritise market opportunities that can maximise the impact of your research. For further help with commercialisation and collaboration, speak with the Innovation and Business Partnerships team: collaborate@sussex.ac.uk.