Record-Breaking year gives Edinburgh the Edge on Research

09 September 09

The University of Edinburgh has strengthened its position as Scotland’s leading research institution by earning record levels of investment in its pioneering work.

Figures just released show that the University was awarded £249 million to fund its research in 2008/09, 17 per cent more than the £212 million received in 2007/08.

The investment – won in competition with other universities and research centres – supports work across a range of disciplines, including medicine, veterinary medicine, science, engineering and the humanities.

The awards are made from a variety of sources, including government, industry, commerce and charities. Of the 1064 awards, 41 were for more than £1 million. Sponsors from Scotland awarded 172 contracts, totalling £24.2 million.

The University also filed a record 89 patents to protect new inventions by research staff, and a total of 38 licence agreements to allow commercial use of technologies developed on campus.

University staff or students created a total of 26 new companies, the highest number formed in one year by a Scottish university. The firms include Rev Drive, whose revolutionary bicycle gearbox won the 2009 Scottish Institute for Enterprise New Ventures competition, and Hoodeasy, a custom clothing company that finished second in the same contest.

Among the most significant research awards made are £4m from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council for research into high-performance computing, and £3m from the Medical Research Council to establish a gene sequencing facility.

Despite the difficult economic climate, the University also increased its income from consultancy work to a record £4.5 million, up from £3.6 million in 2007/08. Of that figure, £1.7 million came from 143 contracts with Scottish organisations.

Derek Waddell, CEO of Edinburgh Research and Innovation, the University’s research and commercialisation office, said:

“These record figures are testament to the strength and depth of the University’s research excellence. We are clearly maintaining our position as one of the leading research universities in the United Kingdom."

“In the current difficult economic climate, our excellent commercialisation figures, especially those for new company formations, are particularly pleasing. They demonstrate the vital role we are playing in fostering growth in the nation’s economy as we transfer academic knowledge, skills, expertise and intellectual property into the wider community.”

More information on The University of Edinburgh Research and Innovation