The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is committed to knowledge exchange and encouraging collaboration between researchers and business, public and civil society. By creating a dialogue between these communities, knowledge exchange helps research to influence policy and practice in the business, public and third sectors.
See more about guidance on knowledge exchange and how to embed it in research.
Knowledge exchange – what social scientists do
Social scientists use different mechanisms to work with partners. For knowledge exchange, these include:
- undertaking consultancy services
- creating businesses
- creating social ventures
- collaborative research projects
- staff placements
- student placements.
In 2016 we commissioned the Centre for Business Research (takes you to the University of Cambridge website) at the University of Cambridge. This was in order to analyse the knowledge exchange and external interactions of social science academics in the UK between 2012 and 2015.
The report breaks down activities by:
- academic position or seniority
- gender
- age
- research motivations
- the extent to which knowledge exchange activities are carried out within or outside of the university’s region.
Read our report on knowledge exchange and the social sciences.