From University Research to a Bath Business Partnership
How to frame a research enquiry, find relevant University of Bath expertise and contact Technology Transfer about commercialising research.
Published
A business partnership with the University of Bath can begin with a problem you need researchers to help investigate, or with a particular research result you want to discuss commercially. The university’s Innovation and Enterprise service describes support through access to expertise, innovation and funding. Its Technology Transfer team has a more specific remit: helping research reach the marketplace and wider society.[1][2]
Choose the Conversation You Need
If you’re looking for expertise to address a business problem, start by describing that problem. The Innovation and Enterprise page identifies research centres and institutes that work with external organisations. It offers a starting point for finding a relevant subject area, even if you haven’t identified an academic contact.[2]
If your interest concerns the commercial development of specific university research, Technology Transfer is the more directly relevant contact. Its responsibilities include assessing commercial value, protecting research and developing commercial strategies. A useful opening enquiry makes clear whether you’re seeking research expertise or discussing the commercial potential of an identified result.[1][2]
What Technology Transfer Handles
Technology transfer is the work of moving research towards commercial use. At Bath, the team works with academic staff and industry. Its remit includes identifying research with commercial value and helping develop it to a point of commercial interest, so the conversation can concern development as well as research that already has an apparent commercial application.[1]
Intellectual property, often shortened to IP, appears explicitly in the team’s responsibilities. The university says Technology Transfer protects academic research and advises on intellectual property and its protection. It also works with academics to commercialise research through licensing or company formation. For an existing business interested in licensing, the practical question is which research you want to discuss and what commercial application you have in mind.[1]
The team also works closely with Business Partnerships and Knowledge Exchange, another university team. If an enquiry combines a research project with possible commercial development, explain both elements and ask which team should lead the discussion.[1]
Use Bath’s Research Directory to Sharpen Your Enquiry
The Innovation and Enterprise page names several research organisations that work with external partners. These include the Institute for Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems, the Institute for Digital Security and Behaviour, and the Institute for Sustainability and Climate Change. It also lists the Innovation Centre for Applied Sustainable Technologies and the Centre for the Analysis of Motion, Entertainment Research and Applications.[2]
Use those names to make a shortlist, then frame a question about fit. Naming a relevant centre gives your enquiry a subject reference. Ask whether its expertise matches the problem you’ve described and who should discuss the proposed work. A centre’s broad subject area leaves the suitability of your particular project to be established.[2]
Give the First Enquiry Something Concrete to Answer
Because Bath distinguishes access to research expertise from commercialising research, a focused enquiry should explain what you want the relationship to achieve. The following is a practical preparation checklist, rather than a university application requirement:[1][2]
- Describe the business problem and the outcome you want to investigate.
- Identify any University of Bath research, academic or centre that prompted your interest.
- Explain whether you’re seeking a research collaboration, a licensing discussion or help establishing which route fits.
- Set out the evidence you already have and the questions that still need an answer.
For a licensing enquiry, Technology Transfer publishes research-commercialisation@bath.ac.uk as its enquiries address. Refer to the research you’re interested in and ask what information the team needs to assess the next step.[1]
For a broader research partnership, use the University of Bath’s Innovation and Enterprise page to identify a relevant research centre or institute. Take a defined problem into that conversation and ask who can assess its fit, what further discussion is needed and how a potential collaboration would be scoped.[2]
Sources and checks
These sources were used for this article. Availability, prices and service details can change after the stated check date.
- Technology Transfer
Checked 20 October 2026.
Technology Transfer works with academic staff and industry to commercialise University of Bath research. Its responsibilities include assessing commercial value, protecting research, advising on intellectual property and developing commercial strategies. The team helps develop research to a point of commercial interest. Commercialisation routes include licensing and company formation. Technology Transfer works closely with Business Partnerships and Knowledge Exchange. The published Technology Transfer enquiries address is research-commercialisation@bath.ac.uk.
- Innovation and Enterprise
Checked 20 October 2026.
Innovation and Enterprise describes business support through access to expertise, innovation and funding. The university has multidisciplinary research centres and institutes that work with external organisations. The listed organisations include the Institute for Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems, the Institute for Digital Security and Behaviour, and the Institute for Sustainability and Climate Change. The listed organisations also include the Innovation Centre for Applied Sustainable Technologies and the Centre for the Analysis of Motion, Entertainment Research and Applications.