Industry engagement

We have engaged with a broad range of commercial industries over many years, from small and medium-sized enterprises through to large pharmaceutical industry. Key to these engagements is knowledge exchange (KE), a mutual exchange and collaboration that benefits both partners. These can include consultancy and advisory services, secondment of research staff within commerical businesses, collaboration and co-production of new research, licensing of our IP, providing Continuing Professional Training (CPD) and general sharing of information about the nature of our research and the needs of stakeholder businesses.


We recently published examples of some of our industry engagements demonstrating these KE practices. These are available in the Industry collaborations PDF flyer with additional materials.

Image of cow being inspected by researchers
Image of cow being inspected by researchers

Foot-and-mouth disease research to inform vaccine manufacturing and control options for East Africa

Fri, 07 Aug 2015 15:21:00 BST

Researchers from the Institute and The Pirbright Institute are collaborating with MSD Animal Health to strengthen surveillance capacity for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in rural Tanzania through community engagement and simple field-based diagnostics.

EPIC logo
EPIC logo

EPIC centre of expertise in animal disease outbreaks

Wed, 17 Dec 2014 15:33:00 GMT

Researchers in our Institute are involved in a strategic science advisory role to the Scottish Government together with partner Institutions across Scotland as part of EPIC Centre of Expertise in Animal Disease Outbreaks. EPIC brings together a substantial body of epidemiological expertise to address the risks of, and response to, animal disease outbreaks.

Image of a tray of hens eggs
Image of a tray of hens eggs

Cute-Egg, improvement of eggshell cuticle quality to reduce vertical transmission of zoonotic and pathogenic organisms

Tue, 16 Dec 2014 18:19:00 GMT

Work between Prof Maureen Bain, collaborators at Edinburgh University and two industrial partners are investigating ways to improve the cuticle covering of eggs. The cuticle, a protein-rich layer on the outer surface of the egg, forms the first line of defence to the penetration of bacteria from the environment into the egg.

Image of a calf
Image of a calf

Biomarkers of wellbeing & disease in production and companion animals

Wed, 17 Dec 2014 13:30:00 GMT

Our research is investigating biomarkers that can be used as a measure of wellbeing and disease in production and companion animals, which are being developed into tests in collaborative work with industry.

Image of cows feeding in a large barn
Image of cows feeding in a large barn

Managing carbohydrate overload of the rumen

Tue, 16 Dec 2014 17:49:00 GMT

Research in production animal health is working on multiple related, collaborative projects with industrial partners intended to maximise animal welfare and efficiency of production.

Image of a dam
Image of a dam

Collaborating to tackle problems of riverine impoundment

Wed, 17 Dec 2014 18:03:00 GMT

A team based at Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment (SCENE) are investigating what environmental cues aquatic animals, such as fish, use to find their way around natural and artificial river barriers, and which types of hydroelectric turbines cause the least harm.

Image of a chicken
Image of a chicken

Enhanced productivity in the egg industry

Fri, 11 Jul 2014 01:22:00 BST

Research conducted in our Institute has helped the UK egg-laying industry, by driving substantial improvements in productivity and bird welfare.