Industry and End-User Partnerships

Partnerships with industry and end-users are critical across our research portfolio, enabling definition of relevant research projects and facilitating impact into guidance, policy and practice. We use industry facing study groups, workshops and sandpit events to explore challenges, and we have a range of mechanisms for collaborative working with external partners, offering different timescales, costs and complexity.

Student routes	Grant funded	Direct support
Undergrad/MSc projects Short term (3-6 months), low risk, low cost. Ideal way of building a relationship and exploring an idea.	Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Cost share scheme for industry driven R&D projects, typically 2-3 years with a dedicated research associate.	Consultancy Short term with retention of IP, but relatively high cost. Good for short focused projects.
Co-funded PhDs Ideal for underpinning research to support new ideas. Cost share with research council via CDT or CASE schemes. Typically 3-4 years.	Innovate funding Industry led grant schemes focusing on strategic R&D and in partnership with academia.	Direct funded research Lower cost than consultancy, developed in partnership with academic. Usually allows retention of IP.
Fully sponsored PhDs Similar to co-funded, but enables stronger partner steer and retention of IP.	Research grant partner Academic led projects, with industry partner in-kind or small value. Low risk, but over longer timescale. Good for building relationships.	Strategic partnership Long term approach, usually where there are multiple connections or projects. Supported through a partnership agreement

Student routes

Grant funded

Direct support

Undergrad/MSc projects

Short term (3-6 months), low risk, low cost. Ideal way of building a relationship and exploring an idea.

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

Cost share scheme for industry driven R&D projects, typically 2-3 years with a dedicated research associate.

Consultancy

Short term with retention of IP, but relatively high cost. Good for short focused projects.

Co-funded PhDs

Ideal for underpinning research to support new ideas. Cost share with research council via CDT or CASE schemes. Typically 3-4 years.

Innovate funding

Industry led grant schemes focusing on strategic R&D and in partnership with academia.

Direct funded research

Lower cost than consultancy, developed in partnership with academic. Usually allows retention of IP.

Fully sponsored PhDs

Similar to co-funded, but enables stronger partner steer and retention of IP.

Research grant partner

Academic led projects, with industry partner in-kind or small value. Low risk, but over longer timescale. Good for building relationships.

Strategic partnership

Long term approach, usually where there are multiple connections or projects. Supported through a partnership agreement

Other In-kind support:

Input into our LIFD Advisory board
Supervise PhD or MSc projects aligned to your organisation’s interests (no ownership of IP)
Offer placements, mentoring, talks to students/staff, deliver training
Provide access to kit and lab space and/or data and software
Technical support/input to research projects

Why work with us?

You can:

Access a pool of highly qualified academic staff and students conducting cutting edge research
Progress research ideas / fundamental understanding needed in your business / organisation which can’t be completed in-house
Access relevant seminars, events and training
Access a highly-qualified pool of graduates for recruitment
Promote your company’s association with LIFD on our webpages / social media
Influence our fluids training programmes at Leeds to ensure graduates meet your future business / organisation needs

Get in touch with us at fluids-institute@leeds.ac.uk to discuss further