Curiosity-driven
and action-oriented
research
Curiosity-driven
and action-oriented
research
Our research advances knowledge for public good through the development of ideas, theories and concepts, and through active collaboration with partners.
We work together to tackle important intellectual, technological, environmental, social and economic challenges, such as the climate crisis, improving energy and food security, tackling disease, reducing inequalities, driving change that benefits our societies and creating more cohesive, resilient, safe and thriving communities.
Through our curiosity-driven research and engagement with partners, we lay the foundation for addressing challenges not yet known.
York voices
What our community told us
“How I feel we should be seen by the government and by industry is as being innovative, ambitious, collaborative and fast.”
“Our facilities, infrastructure and spaces are important for collaborations. You get the right people in the room to talk about it. This is how you actually make it happen and figure out what to fund.”
“I think to be honest… changing someone else's life through life-changing research is more important than making money, because it can help someone in the future.”
“What are the big research questions that could bring us together? Shared global concerns where we have particular expertise - all also lead to easier links into funding.”
"The question is what does success look like for an industry partner? Employable talent is the most obvious of it all, with the right level of skills. But absolutely it’s all about research as well - being able to solve some long-term problems both for industry as well as for the world.”
“How can we involve alumni in these ambitions? I hope an industry alumni network can help broker more research partnerships.”
How we're rising to this challenge
Our strategic priorities
Championing Excellence Across Disciplines
To be a research leader, nurturing ambitious research at the highest levels of quality across our comprehensive discipline base - demonstrably leading the generation and exchange of knowledge and understanding, inspired by working within and across disciplines and through co-creation of research with a wide range of partners.
Uniting Expertise Across Sectors
To use our expertise to work purposefully with partners in academia, government, industry and the public as we respond to priorities and challenges set out by national and regional government and industry partners.
Empowering Our Community to Flourish
To nurture the conditions and culture within which diverse people, ideas and approaches can flourish - enabling our community to work with integrity, build equitable and respectful collaborations, and seek and tackle new challenges.
Building Financial Resilience and Growth
To increase the financial resilience of York’s research portfolio, diversifying our income through strategic collaborations and partnerships, making commercial and private sector partnership central to our portfolio, and engaging with philanthropic funders in delivering our joint mission.
Championing Excellence Across Disciplines
To be a research leader, nurturing ambitious research at the highest levels of quality across our comprehensive discipline base - demonstrably leading the generation and exchange of knowledge and understanding, inspired by working within and across disciplines and through co-creation of research with a wide range of partners.
Uniting Expertise Across Sectors
To use our expertise to work purposefully with partners in academia, government, industry and the public as we respond to priorities and challenges set out by national and regional government and industry partners.
Empowering Our Community to Flourish
To nurture the conditions and culture within which diverse people, ideas and approaches can flourish - enabling our community to work with integrity, build equitable and respectful collaborations, and seek and tackle new challenges.
Building Financial Resilience and Growth
To increase the financial resilience of York’s research portfolio, diversifying our income through strategic collaborations and partnerships, making commercial and private sector partnership central to our portfolio, and engaging with philanthropic funders in delivering our joint mission.
Paving the way
Key projects and initiatives
Research Excellence
Development of the University's Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029 submission, led by the Research Excellence Framework Strategy Group.
Strengthening our leading research
Strengthen areas of research where York has distinctive leadership and significant capacity, starting with our multi-disciplinary capabilities in health and social care.
AdvancinG Regional Priorities
Respond to the UK Government's Industrial Strategy, working with the City of York and the York and North Yorkshire Mayoral Authority to advance regional priorities in the bioeconomy, creative industries, rail technology and health innovation. Accelerate the development of the Bio-Industrial Cluster North, building on the largest concentration of bioeconomy jobs in the UK across York, North Yorkshire, and Tees Valley.
expanding industry partnerships
Significantly scale up working with industry starting with expanding industry-facing units in the Institute for Safe Autonomy and the Smart Data Donation Service, investing in priority industry sector areas, launching a new Sparks programme to validate emerging opportunities, and establishing a single industry-facing front door backed internally by an agile business development and contracting team.
Fostering Open AND Equitable Research
Establish University-wide fora and assemblies to consider how we maintain a culture of open research, respectful and equitable partnerships in an era of political sensitivity and polarisation at home and abroad as well as supporting researchers working in challenging areas.
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