Collaborating on research

We collaborate with a range of organisations on research, including other universities, private businesses, public bodies and third sector operators. Find out about some of the projects we’ve been involved in and how you could collaborate with us.

How to collaborate with us

We are always keen to collaborate with other organisations, both within the UK and beyond.

If you are a business interested in collaborating with us on research and innovation, we have access to a range of funding that can make it more affordable. Visit our Research and Innovation page for businesses to find out more, or contact our Business Enquiries team.

If you are another type of organisation or an academic and have a research idea you would like to discuss with someone, our University Research and Knowledge Exchange Office is a good place to start, email urkeo@derby.ac.uk. 

Business collaborations

We're working on research projects, large and small, with a range of businesses.

Train speeds through station and under bridge
Supporting innovation in rail infrastructure

Rail engineering and infrastructure consultancy ECSL Ltd, has secured funded technical support and expertise from our Innovate 4 Rail programme for their research project into Fibre Reinforced Po...

Researching the impact of a medical device

The Productivity through Innovation programme is currently helping to fund a research project with SOE Health, a company that develops medical devices for sufferers of COPD.

A man wearing a white coat looking into a microscope
A Long Term Knowledge Exchange Collaboration with SureScreen

For the last six years, the University of Derby has successfully collaborated with analytical laboratory, SureScreen Scientifics, and its sister company, SureScreen Diagnostics Ltd, on a range of know...

town with environmentally friendly energy sources
Strategies to support a greener economy

With the low carbon economy critical to UK business growth, researchers from the Derby Business School at the University of Derby have pioneered effective strategies to support more firms to incorpora...

small business owners receiving support and climbing the ladder to see a brighter future
Let’s Do Business: enhancing support to help small firms survive, grow and thrive

University of Derby research, commissioned by the Let’s Do Business Group (LDBG), has helped justify the relevance and impact of financial support for hundreds of start-up and small businesses and ide...

two workers carrying out an audit in a warehouse
Delivering the goods with lean logistics research

Innovative research by the Centre for Supply Chain Improvement (CSCI) into green-lean and lean logistics is enabling transport, manufacturing and emergency medical service industries worldwide to...

Health and education collaborations

We are working with health providers and the education sector to shed light on some important issues.

a medical research student wearing a face mask and pink gloves
Improving the quality of life for Long-Covid patients

Scientists at the University of Derby are leading a pioneering international study to improve the lives of people suffering with the prolonged and life impairing impacts of long-Covid.

a woman talking to two school girls
Improving career guidance in schools and colleges

University of Derby research centre works with charitable foundation and local enterprise partnership to conduct four-year study in schools and colleges in the North East of England.

A student in our NHS-standard ward
Improving transition for newly qualified nurses

As the number of nurses leaving the NHS hits an all-time high, researchers from the University of Derby have received national recognition for their work in increasing the retention rate of newly qual...

Community and environment collaborations

Here's a glimpse into some of the research partnerships we've been involved in, that aim to have a positive impact on local communities or the environment.

Image of Coral reef
Conserving coral reefs in the face of climate change

Researchers at the University of Derby have developed an innovative technique for inducing the spawning of corals in captivity for the first time – paving the way for large-scale international conserv...

Helping people connect with nature through arts participation

The University's Nature Connectedness Research Group is working with the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and the Bronze Oak Project for an initiative due to launch in the Spring.

Visitors to Derby Museum and Gallery looking at Joseph Wright's painting A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery
Bringing Derby’s role in the Enlightenment to life for new audiences

Researchers at the University of Derby are using historical collections in creative ways to engage the public and shed new light on the city’s influence in the global Enlightenment of the 17th and 18t...

Technician working on equipment

Academic themes

To develop the most innovative solutions to real-world problems, we collaborate across six academic themes. Aligned to some of the local and global challenges we face, our interdisciplinary approach brings our experts together to deliver the greatest impact.

Explore our six academic themesExplore our six academic themes