Supporting research commercialisation through accessible digital tools
Research commercialisation is entering a new phase, with digital tools and AI creating new opportunities, and new challenges, for institutions.
Author
Charles Brophy
Licensing manager, Jisc
Research commercialisation has long been an important priority for UK higher education. What's changing is the pace of activity, the expectations placed on institutions, and the growing role of digital technologies in supporting innovation and knowledge exchange.
At the Knowledge Exchange (KE) UK Conference 2026, it was clear that research commercialisation is no longer a priority confined to a relatively small number of research-intensive universities. Institutions of all sizes are being asked not only to generate world-leading research, but also to demonstrate how that research translates into economic growth, innovation and real-world benefits.
This shift is reinforced by a range of national initiatives, including the Government's Modern Industrial Strategy, the UK Spin-out Register, UK Research and Innovation's Shared TTO Pilot and the Intellectual Property Office's recently launched Knowledge Asset Management Hub. Together, these developments reflect a growing emphasis on research translation, innovation and delivering measurable outcomes from research investment.
These developments reflect a growing emphasis on research translation, innovation and delivering measurable outcomes from research investment.
As institutions respond, many are turning to digital technologies to support every stage of the commercialisation journey, from identifying opportunities and building partnerships to managing intellectual property and measuring outcomes. Through consultation with institutions, Knowledge Exchange UK, NxNW, our licensing strategic and expert groups, and wider sector research, we've examined how research commercialisation in higher education is evolving to identify ways collective agreements and assurance can help institutions access and adopt the right tools with confidence.
From potential to practice
One of the clearest themes emerging from KE UK Conference 2026 was the shift from discussing the potential of AI and digital technologies to demonstrating their practical application.
Institutions shared examples of technology helping commercialisation teams work more effectively, from connecting researchers with industry partners to managing innovation pipelines and demonstrating impact. Interest is also growing in AI-enabled tools that can support opportunity assessment, evidence gathering and administrative workflows.
These technologies are helping commercialisation teams tackle long-standing challenges around capacity and efficiency. Whether identifying research with commercial potential, connecting academics with industry partners or tracking innovation activity, institutions are increasingly looking to technology to help scale their efforts and make better use of limited resources.
One example discussed during the conference was Digital Science's Industry Partnerships Dashboard, which helps institutions identify organisations aligned with their research strengths, understand collaboration networks, uncover researchers with strong industry engagement and prioritise business development activity more effectively.
Confidence in a crowded marketplace
While interest in digital tools is growing, so too is the complexity of the marketplace.
Institutions are faced with an increasing number of solutions claiming to improve commercialisation outcomes. In a challenging financial climate, institutions need to be confident that the tools they invest in are effective, sustainable and capable of delivering genuine value.
Institutions are faced with an increasing number of solutions claiming to improve commercialisation outcomes.
For many institutions, the challenge is not a lack of options. It is having the time, expertise and evidence needed to make informed purchasing decisions.
This is where Jisc can play an important role. Drawing on discussions with institutions, engagement with sector bodies including Knowledge Exchange UK and NxNW, and broader sector research, we are developing a better understanding of institutional requirements, assessing supplier offerings and helping institutions navigate a rapidly evolving landscape. By combining sector insight with procurement expertise, we can help institutions navigate the market with greater confidence and reduce the risk associated with technology investment.
Importantly, this support is relevant across the sector. Research commercialisation is no longer the preserve of a relatively small group of institutions, and access to effective digital tools should not depend on the size of an institution's budget or commercialisation team.
Understanding the sector's needs
To build a clearer picture of the landscape, we've launched a research commercialisation and IP management survey exploring the tools institutions use to support knowledge exchange and research commercialisation, the challenges they face, and where there may be opportunities for greater collaboration. exploring the tools institutions use to support knowledge exchange and research commercialisation, the challenges they face, and where there may be opportunities for greater collaboration.
The findings will help us identify common requirements, understand barriers to adoption and explore what tools we can license for institutions. As digital infrastructure becomes increasingly important to commercialisation activity, assurance, affordability, governance and sustainability are becoming increasingly important considerations.
Our aim is not simply to negotiate discounts, but to provide institutions with greater assurance and confidence when selecting tools that support innovation, impact and commercialisation.
As part of this commitment, we're pleased to announce a new agreement with Digital Science for its Dimensions Industry Partnerships Dashboard. The agreement provides discounted Jisc-banded pricing through one and three-year subscription options, helping to ensure that institutions of all sizes can access the benefits of the platform. By combining competitive pricing with Jisc's sector expertise and supplier due diligence, we're helping members make informed decisions about technologies that support research commercialisation.
Looking ahead
My main takeaway from KE UK Conference 2026 is that research commercialisation is entering a new phase.
Digital tools, such as Dimensions Industry Partnerships Dashboard and AI, are becoming an increasingly important part of the infrastructure that underpins successful knowledge exchange, helping institutions identify opportunities, build partnerships, manage intellectual property and demonstrate impact.
The question is no longer whether AI belongs in knowledge exchange and commercialisation, but which solutions deliver genuine value, how they can be adopted responsibly and how their impact can be measured.
As the market for knowledge exchange tools continues to evolve, institutions will need trusted information about these tools, robust evidence about the value they bring and confidence in their purchasing decisions. By working closely with the sector and suppliers, we can help provide that assurance, while improving access to technologies that support innovation and research impact across the whole higher education community.
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