Expertise
The specialist knowledge that universities bring to businesses seeking to innovate.
Where university expertise adds value
Innovation depends on combining specialist knowledge with practical experience of markets and production. The partner universities in Nottingham and Derby provide academic depth across engineering, digital technology, design and business practice.
This expertise is made available through projects that are scoped with each business, so that the knowledge applied is matched to the problem at hand.
Fields of specialist knowledge
Technical development
Testing, materials, prototyping and process design help businesses check whether a product will work before scaling it up.
Digital and data
Analysis, software development and systems thinking support companies that rely on information to improve services.
Design and user needs
Research into how people use products and services helps teams refine their offer and reduce risk.
Business and management
Advice on planning, operations and commercial strategy helps innovation move from idea to sustainable practice.
More on the wider partnership is available at the ecosystem overview.
How expertise is applied
Phase 1
Diagnosis
Specialists listen to the business and identify where knowledge gaps or technical risks lie.
Phase 2
Targeted support
Academic staff and students carry out the agreed work, reporting progress as it develops.
Phase 3
Transfer of learning
Findings are documented so that the business can continue to build on the results.
Notes on working with specialists
Specialist input works best when the business sets out its goals early and shares the information needed to test them.
- Define the question the business needs answered
- Share relevant data and constraints at the start
- Agree how progress and results will be reviewed
Frequently asked
Yes. Many projects draw on several fields, and the partners can coordinate who is involved.
Support is open to organisations of different sizes, and smaller projects can be scoped to suit available resources.
Expertise in practice
To begin, visit the services page or send an enquiry through the contact page.