Keele University
Business Engagement
In the academic year 2020 / 21 , Keele University continued to support local businesses with innovation-led growth , research and development support , and a leadership programme for entrepreneurs and innovators across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire , via the University ’ s landmark New Keele Deal . Since launching in 2017 , 750 businesses have engaged with the University through the Deal . The Smart Innovation Hub launched in 2020 currently has 16 business tenants , and nine co-workers in residence from different businesses , and in the academic year 2020 / 21 67 businesses engaged with programmes run from the Smart Innovation Hub .
The Keele Deals are testament to the commitment that Keele has to the local area and have been praised by the UK Government . This academic year we launched our fourth Keele Deal , with a focus on working with local partners to help the region recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic , and to help businesses to improve their outlook and prospects post-pandemic . Keele Deal | Recovery will build on the existing relationships that the University has with key business and enterprise partners across Stoke-on-Trent , Staffordshire , and the wider region , using our expertise , research and resources to help strengthen the region ’ s economic outlook post-Covid-19 .
The New Keele Deal , a £ 70 million investment by a number of partners including University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust ( UHNM ), Staffordshire County Council , Stoke-on-Trent City Council , Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership , continues to support long-term economic growth for the region , create high-value jobs , and provide opportunities for students and graduates to gain experience working in growing and innovative businesses . The Deal is already generating an additional £ 16m for the local economy each year , and the Smart Energy Network Demonstrator , one of the projects made possible through the deal , is on track to save 4,096 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year by the end of 2021 .
Keele has promised to put the local economy and quality of life within Stokeon-Trent and Staffordshire at the top of its list of priorities . Keele ’ s efforts to help the local community during the Covid-19 pandemic further demonstrates its commitment to the region and has been widely praised including by the Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire . These efforts were also praised by Research England in their Knowledge Exchange 18
Framework , which benchmarked universities in England on how they share knowledge with communities , organisations and other institutions and ranked Keele in the top 10 % in two key areas – regeneration and research partnerships .
Keele ’ s Science and Innovation Park continues to attract pioneering , innovative companies to the area , engaging in crucial work including the manufacture of a vaccine on campus to combat Covid-19 , which has highlighted Staffordshire and the West Midlands as leaders in collaboration between Universities , businesses , and NHS partnerships driving innovative approaches to global healthcare .
Cobra Biologics , which has two facilities on the University ’ s Science and Innovation Park , signed an agreement with AstraZeneca UK to manufacture their Covid-19 vaccine at their Keele facilities , which has been so successfully rolled out over the course of 2021 . The company is also part of a programme with the University of Oxford to ensure broad and equitable supply of the vaccine throughout the world , at no profit during the Covid-19 pandemic .
Construction has also started this year on the seventh Innovation Centre ( IC7 ) building on our Science Park . IC7 will be home to Keele ’ s Digital Society Institute and was selected as one of 300 projects to receive funding from the government ’ s “ Getting Building Fund ”. The vision for IC7 is to drive business growth and innovation , helping local businesses understand and adopt advanced data analytics , including the use of Big Data , machine learning , artificial intelligence and complex systems based on the ‘ Internet of Things ’. The Centre ’ s initial programme will be launched in 2022 and will support over 400 SMEs over an 18-month period . The aim is for local businesses and purpose-led organisations to understand and make use of advanced data analytics to drive productivity , growth and improve social outcomes .
Professor McMillan has also chaired a steering group which this year has secured £ 23.6 million for Newcastle-under-Lyme , to improve the town ’ s communications , infrastructure and connectivity . The Town Investment Plan ( TIP ) sets out a vision for Newcastle with digital connectivity at its heart , which will generate an increase of more than £ 69 million a year in increased gross value added ( GVA ) for the area ; a £ 2.3 million uplift in land values ; and will enable the regeneration of communities across the borough . Newcastle Borough Council set up a Town Deal Board to help develop the TIP , chaired by Professor McMillan , who represented Keele University and Stoke Staffs LEP on the Board .
Since launching the Keele Deal in 2017
750
businesses have engaged with the University through the Deal
The Centre ’ s initial programme will be launched in 2022 and will support over
400
SMEs over an 18-month period .
Professor McMillan has also chaired a steering group which this year has secured
£ 23.6m
for Newcastle-under- Lyme , to improve the town ’ s communications , infrastructure and connectivity . This will generate an increase of more than
£ 69m
a year in increased gross value