Innovation, Engagement and Impact Strategy

Innovation, Engagement and Impact Strategy 2025–2030

Summary

The Innovation, Engagement and Impact Strategy sets out how the University will support, coordinate and accelerate the translation of research into real-world benefit between 2025 and 2030. It establishes a shared institutional approach built around 5 connected priorities and a set of enabling actions. Together, these aim to deepen Oxford’s contribution locally and expand its global influence in innovation and engagement.

Vision

Oxford will be a global leader in inclusive innovation, engagement and impact – grounded in academic excellence and strengthened through partnerships – delivering solutions to major local, national and global challenges.

Five strategic priorities

The strategy focuses delivery on five areas:

1. Entrepreneurship and commercialisation
   Supporting spin-outs, start-ups and translational activities, and widening access to training and funding for students and staff.
2. Collaboration with external partners
   Developing long-term partnerships across the public, private and voluntary sectors to accelerate impact.
3. Innovation ecosystem development
   Convening regional partners, attracting investment, and supporting inclusive, place-based economic growth.
4. Public and community engagement
   Embedding responsible, co-produced engagement within research and recognising the expertise of communities.
5. Policy engagement
   Strengthening relationships with policy professionals and enabling evidence-informed decision making

Intended outcomes

Implementation across the five priorities is designed to achieve eight outcomes:

1. Engagement embedded in research – more researchers integrate public, community and policy engagement into their work, strengthening rigour and relevance.
2. Greater community involvement – communities, including those directly affected by research, have more influence over research and University decision-making related to innovation and engagement.
3.  Stronger internal coordination – teams across the University work in a more connected way, enabling agile, strategic collaboration and partnership-building.
4. Improved incentives and skills – academics are recognised for high-quality engagement and impact, and staff and students have better access to training and support.
5. A stronger innovation ecosystem – Oxford fosters a highly competitive and globally recognised environment that continually evolves and improves.
6. Preferred-partner status – the University becomes a collaborator of choice for organisations seeking ambitious, impact-driven partnerships at all scales.
7. Sustainable, scaling University companies – spin-outs and start-ups grow responsibly, with many remaining in Oxfordshire and contributing to global impact.
8. Greater visibility and investment for Oxfordshire – the region attracts major investment funds aligned with the University’s innovation pipeline.

Enablers and ways of working

Successful delivery of the strategy will be supported by:

• enhanced reward and recognition for innovation and engagement
• improved monitoring, evaluation and learning processes
• clear, consistent communications
• strong, coordinated professional services
• the Responsible Knowledge Exchange, Engagement and Impact (RKEEI) principles, including integrity, equity, reciprocity and sensitivity to context

Why this matters

The University plays a major role as both a regional anchor institution and a global innovation leader. The strategy outlines how Oxford will connect research excellence to societal benefit, align investment and activity across the collegiate University, and strengthen its contribution to economic, cultural and policy landscapes.

Download the full strategy

Find out more

For queries about implementation, partnership opportunities or communications, contact the Innovation and Engagement Team at [email protected].