The KEF highlights how universities collaborate with businesses, public services, and communities to deliver economic growth and societal benefit. It is illustrated by scores of one (being the least effective) to five (being the most effective). For the second year running, Lincoln has maintained a strong performance across a range of key perspectives, from research partnerships and local growth to public engagement and support for business.

This year’s results also reflect Lincoln’s growing contribution to the region’s future priorities and improved in several areas, highlighting its continued commitment to working with industry and turning research into impact.

Notably, Lincoln’s KEF scores rose in areas of commercialisation and business engagement:

• Licensing and other IP income as a proportion of research income increased from two to three, showing growing strength in innovation and commercialisation.
• Contract research income with non-SME business rose from three to four, underlining enhanced partnerships with larger business partners.

• Lincoln also scored a three in contract research income with SME businesses, remaining in the top ten in the UK for business start-ups and supporting regional SMEs through initiatives like Sparkhouse and the Lincoln Science and Innovation Park.

Professor Karl Dayson, Pro Vice Chancellor Research, Knowledge Exchange and Global Engagement at the University of Lincoln, said:

“These results reaffirm our role as a crucial driver of economic growth, innovation and skills for Greater Lincolnshire and beyond. From training the next generation of doctors, transforming the provision of oral healthcare across the county, enhancing food security and innovation in farming, and pioneering the use of AI in defence and strategic decision making, we are working with partners to turn research into real-world solutions.

“Our strong KEF performance reflects the University’s civic mission, aligning teaching and research with the needs of the county, while producing work that can be applied nationally and internationally. This reflects the impact of our long-standing collaboration between academic teams, industry leaders, and local stakeholders.”

The University’s strategic priorities are reflected across its civic and research activity. In Health, Lincoln is making progress in Dentistry and Medicine, with the first independent cohort of medical students now having enrolled through Lincoln’s Gateway Year programme, expanding opportunities and tackling regional skills gaps. In Defence and AI, the University is strengthening partnerships in digital technologies and security innovation, and Lincoln continues to lead in agri-tech and food security, collaborating with industry to tackle regional, national, and global challenges.

The strong KEF performance also illustrates Lincoln’s cultural contribution with the University is driving creative vibrancy through a diverse programme of activity at the Lincoln Arts Centre as well as the Lincoln Book Festival, and the Barbican project.