De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) has strengthened its performance in a national assessment of how universities create economic and social impact.
The Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) measures how effectively universities work with businesses, public and third-sector organisations, communities and regional partners to turn knowledge and expertise into practical benefit.
The latest results, published by Research England, show DMU has moved up in two key areas and maintained its position in the remaining five.
The university improved in Local Growth and Regeneration, and Working with the Public and Third Sector.
One of the Knowledge Transfer Projects DMU is working on with Leicester firm Swipe and Tap
DMU also retains its highest rating of five out of five for Continuing Professional Development and Graduate Start-ups, with no fall in performance across any of the seven areas measured.
Professor Mike Kagioglou, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Planning, Research and Innovation at DMU, said: “These results show that our knowledge exchange performance is strengthening across a number of important areas.
“We have retained our strongest performance in continuing professional development and graduate enterprise, while making progress in local growth, public and third-sector partnerships and community engagement.
“We are seeing particularly strong growth in our work with businesses through Innovate UK and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, alongside increased research activity with public and third-sector organisations.
“Our ambition now is to build on that progress by creating more opportunities for organisations to work with DMU, increasing collaboration and ensuring that our research, knowledge and expertise continues to deliver economic and social benefit.”
Behind the headline results released today (OCTOBER 7), the latest figures show strong growth in DMU’s work with businesses and external organisations.
Income from Innovate UK-funded activity, including Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) and grants, more than doubled in the latest year covered by KEF6, rising from around £780,000 to more than £1.6 million.
KTPs bring businesses together with university expertise and highly skilled graduates to develop new products, services and ways of working.
The latest figures also show a rise in DMU’s work with public and third-sector organisations. Contract research income from those organisations more than doubled over the latest year, increasing from £132,000 to £302,000.
The KEF is produced by Research England and provides a national picture of how universities contribute to the economy and society through their relationships with businesses, public bodies, communities and other external partners.
Posted on Wednesday 7 October 2026