University of Nottingham

Higher Education and Researchnottingham.ac.uk

The University of Nottingham is a Russell Group public research university founded in 1881, delivering higher education to 46,000 students across campuses in the UK, Malaysia, and China, and commercializing deep-tech research through a 40+ spin-out portfolio and a syndicated investment fund.

Company typePublic
Founded1881
HeadquartersNottingham, United Kingdom
Headcount5,001–10,000
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What University of Nottingham does

The University of Nottingham is a UK public research university established by Royal Charter in 1881, operating across three global campuses in Nottingham (UK), Semenyih (Malaysia), and Ningbo (China) with approximately 46,000 students and 12,000 staff. It is a Russell Group institution ranked 7th in the UK for research power and Top 100 globally in the QS World University Rankings 2027, and holds an A+ credit rating from S&P with a stable outlook.

The university's core product is higher education across undergraduate, postgraduate, and research degree programs, supported by a modernized student management system (NottinghamHub) developed in partnership with Infosys and a Salesforce Agentforce-powered AI agent (NOVA) deployed at the Malaysia campus. Underlying research infrastructure spans the UK's highest-pressure Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing facility, multi-metal laser powder bed fusion for fusion energy (DIADEM with UKAEA), quantum-grade OPM-MEG brain imaging (via Cerca Magnetics spin-out), advanced biomedical engineering, and sustainable chemistry. A wholly-owned subsidiary, Nottingham Technology Ventures, manages a 40+ company spin-out portfolio spanning biotherapeutics (NuVision), medical devices (Neupulse, Mintech-Bio), diagnostics (Shard Diagnostics), and defense imaging (Cerca Magnetics' £2.8m MoD contract).

Revenue is generated through four principal streams: tuition fees across UK, Malaysia, and China campuses; research grants and contracts from UKRI, Wellcome, Innovate UK, and EPSRC; commercialization income from equity stakes, licensing, and royalties across the spin-out portfolio; and a new structured vehicle, the SyndicateRoom-partnered EIS fund launched in 2026 to give third-party investors exposure to the spin-out pipeline. The institution is currently executing a major financial restructuring to address a disclosed £85m budget deficit, with 2,700 staff notified of redundancy risk and Modern Languages admissions suspended for 2026/27; a UCU vote of no confidence in the vice-chancellor and a major 2026 Oracle PeopleSoft breach affecting ~454,600 student records compound the near-term operational pressures.

University of Nottingham firmographics

Firmographics

Name: University of Nottingham
Legal name: The University of Nottingham
Website: https://nottingham.ac.uk
Company type: Public
Founded year: 1881
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 5,001–10,000 employees
Short description: The University of Nottingham is a Russell Group public research university founded in 1881, delivering higher education to 46,000 students across campuses in the UK, Malaysia, and China, and commercializing deep-tech research through a 40+ spin-out portfolio and a syndicated investment fund.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

University of Nottingham industry classification

Industry

Product category: Higher Education and Research
NAICS: Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)
SIC: Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
akta.pro primary industry: Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)
akta.pro secondary industry: Technology Transfer & Innovation-Driven Research Universities (High Commercialization) (EDAHABAH)

Keywords

Higher education programs
University research collaboration
Technology transfer services
Clinical trial research
Degree apprenticeships

Where University of Nottingham is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Nottingham
HQ country: United Kingdom
HQ region: Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

University of Nottingham business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

Tuition Fees: Revenue from domestic and international undergraduate and postgraduate tuition fees across UK, Malaysia, and China campuses.
Research Grants and Contracts: Funding from UKRI, Wellcome Trust, Innovate UK, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, and other research councils for collaborative research projects.
Commercialisation and Spin-outs: Revenue and investment returns from technology spin-outs managed through Nottingham Technology Ventures, including equity stakes in companies like NuVision Biotherapies, Cerca Magnetics, and Shard Diagnostics.
SyndicateRoom EIS Fund: Partnership with SyndicateRoom for Enterprise Investment Scheme fund giving investors exposure to university spin-outs in clean-tech, AI-driven animal welfare, advanced engineering, and healthcare.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Other	Annual	University of Nottingham Malaysia - Salesforce AI agent NOVA for student recruitment

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

University of Nottingham product offering

Product offering

Core offering

The University of Nottingham delivers undergraduate, postgraduate, and research degree programs across global campuses in the UK, Malaysia, and China, supported by multidisciplinary research and industry partnership services. It commercializes research through spin-out companies managed by its wholly-owned subsidiary Nottingham Technology Ventures, with portfolio companies operating in healthcare, medical devices, quantum sensing, and advanced manufacturing.

Product overview

The University of Nottingham operates a diverse portfolio of products and services spanning educational technology, clinical research, medical devices, and advanced manufacturing. The core educational infrastructure includes NottinghamHub, a student management system modernized in partnership with Infosys, and NOVA, an AI agent deployed on Salesforce Agentforce for student recruitment at the Malaysia campus. The university commercializes research through numerous spin-out companies including Cerca Magnetics (OPM-MEG brain imaging devices), NuVision Biotherapies (amniotic membrane eye treatments), and Mintech-Bio (protein-based dental gel). Clinical offerings include the FreeDM2 continuous glucose monitoring trial, the Scratch Less eczema intervention program, and the Neupulse wearable device for Tourette's syndrome. Research infrastructure includes the UK's highest-pressure Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing facility and the DIADEM multi-metal additive manufacturing project for fusion energy. The university also manages an investment fund through SyndicateRoom for its spin-out portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

Nottingham Technology Ventures: Commercial arm of the university managing spin-out portfolio and technology transfer
Lakeside Arts
Nottingham Advantage Award
Nottingham University Business School

Products and services

Undergraduate Degree Programmes Full-time undergraduate degrees across multiple faculties delivered across UK, Malaysia, and China campuses, awarded by a Russell Group research-intensive university.
Postgraduate Taught and Research Degrees Postgraduate taught programmes (masters and doctoral research degrees) across all faculties, with research training supported by central facilities such as the Researcher Academy.
Degree Apprenticeships Work-based degree apprenticeship programmes combining on-the-job training with a university degree, developed in partnership with employers.
Working with Business Services A portfolio of services for employers covering knowledge and expertise consultancy, workforce development programmes, graduate recruitment, collaborative funding, and access to university facilities and equipment.
Collaborative Research and Research Partnership Services Joint research and contract research delivered with industry, government, and academic consortia — for example, the DIADEM project with Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, and UKAEA, and the E.ON partnership on digital twin technology for fuel poverty.
University-Partnered EIS Investment Fund (with SyndicateRoom) Enterprise Investment Scheme fund giving EIS-eligible investors exposure to a portfolio of over 40 university spin-out companies in clean-tech, AI-driven animal welfare, advanced engineering, and healthcare, managed via Nottingham Technology Ventures.
Conference, Event, and Facility Hire Services Hire of the university's conference centres, libraries, and related facilities for external meetings and events.

Quantifiable outcome

70% reduction in incident volumes for Infosys partnership
+6 more outcomes

Companies that use University of Nottingham

Customer profile

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

University of Nottingham technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability9 records

Feature4 records

University of Nottingham partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

Capgemini Quantum LabmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 June 2026Consortium of 11 institutions including Capgemini Quantum Lab, King's College London, PsiQuantum, Daresbury Laboratory, Toyota Research Institute, Fraunhofer Institute, Robert Bosch GmbH, Airbus Central Research and Technology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and GE Vernova Advanced Research developing integrated workflows combining theoretical modeling, computational analysis, experimentation, and machine learning for materials discovery.
Auka ProductionsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026Collaboration with Auka Productions for Hot Pot original play at Lakeside Arts exploring queer East and Southeast Asian life. Research project funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council. Production features predominantly British East and Southeast Asian cast touring nationally.
PlasmaGikencoreTechnology or Integration · 11 June 2026Japanese company providing technical support for UK's highest-pressure Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing facility at Centre of Excellence in Coating and Surface Engineering. Technology can repair and remanufacture high-value components for aerospace, fusion energy, nuclear, and defence sectors.
EarthScale AcceleratorminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 202612-month UK-wide climate tech accelerator led by Imperial College London and co-funded by Research England Development Fund. University researchers and spin-outs may participate in program bridging gap between prototype and commercialisation.
InfosyscoreTechnology or Integration · 24 March 2026Extended strategic collaboration to modernize university's Student Management System (NottinghamHub) leveraging Infosys Cobalt and Topaz Fabric technologies. Partnership since 2017 achieved 70% reduction in incident volumes, 30% improvement in system performance, and 35% reduction in infrastructure costs. Supports 46,000 students and 12,000 staff across global campuses in UK, Malaysia, and China.
UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2026DIADEM project (Design of Interfaces for Additively Engineered Metamaterials) led by university's Centre for Additive Manufacturing. Multi-Metal Laser Powder Bed Fusion to join dissimilar metals like tungsten and copper for fusion energy applications. Supports UK's STEP prototype fusion power plant targeting operation by 2040.
Rolls-RoycecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2026Industrial partner in DIADEM project for multi-metal additive manufacturing. Also partnered on UK's highest-pressure Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing facility at Centre of Excellence in Coating and Surface Engineering. Research targeting aerospace, fusion energy, nuclear, and defence sectors.
DEScyclemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 January 2026SPRIND Tech Metal Transformation Challenge collaboration with DEScycle, Seloxium, and Esy Labs for circular metals recovery using deep eutectic solvent technology. Initial £1.3 million (€1.5 million) award with potential up to £5 million based on progress. University contributes research expertise for processing electronic waste and industrial residues.
OptekminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 December 2025Collaboration on THERMACH project with Seco, University of Nottingham, TISICS, and Attenborough Medical for machining difficult materials like metal matrix composites. University contributes expertise in laser micro machining technologies.
E.ONmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2025University's City as Lab partnered with E.ON to address fuel poverty using digital twin technology and advanced mapping tools. Collaboration creates 3D models and simulations to identify affected households and develop sustainable energy solutions for Nottingham, which has high rates of child poverty.
FA BiominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2025Partnership with FA Bio for microbial discovery using SporSenZ technology. Collaboration supports development of fungi-based biological solutions for regenerative agriculture, combining university research with company product development capabilities.
National HighwaysminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 December 2024Low-carbon asphalt trials on UK motorways as part of net-zero roadmap. University research contributes to testing bio-binders, graphene additives, recycled plastic, and high-percentage reclaimed asphalt materials.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

University of Nottingham competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

Imperial College London: Russell Group research-intensive university with overlapping strengths in additive manufacturing, biomedical engineering, and quantum research. Direct peer for deep-tech research intensity, though more STEM-focused than Nottingham's broader portfolio.
King's College London: Russell Group university appearing alongside Nottingham in the Capgemini Quantum Lab consortium, indicating comparable research positioning in advanced materials discovery. Comparable scale and London/global student mix.
University of Leeds: Large Russell Group university in northern England with comparable student and staff scale and similar broad disciplinary portfolio including engineering, medicine, and business. Direct peer for benchmarking research power, student outcomes, and sector financial pressure.
University of Bristol: Russell Group research university with overlapping research strengths in quantum sensing, biomedical engineering, and aerospace. Direct comparable on Russell Group research-power rankings, and even appears as a co-recipient of dementia research funding with Nottingham.
University of Manchester: Fellow Russell Group research-intensive university of comparable scale (~46,000 students), with similarly strong spin-out activity (e.g., Manchester Institute of Biotechnology) and breadth across STEM, humanities, and business. Direct comparator on research power rankings, international enrollment, and commercialization.
University of Edinburgh: Russell Group research university with strong quantum, biomedical, and engineering research; large student body; and global reputation. Direct peer on Russell Group research-power rankings and scale.
University of Birmingham: Russell Group research university of similar scale and heritage, with strong industrial collaboration heritage and comparable spin-out portfolio management. Direct comparable for research-power ranking, sector financial pressures, and commercialization track record.
University of Sheffield: Russell Group research university of similar scale with strong engineering and advanced manufacturing research — overlapping Nottingham's industrial collaboration base. Used by analysts as a directly comparable northern UK research university.
University of Warwick: Russell Group university with comparable research-power ranking and significant spin-out activity (e.g., Warwick Ventures). Direct peer for commercialization intensity and Russell Group positioning.

Emerging players

Nanyang Technological University (NTU): Singapore-based global research university with strong engineering and materials science research, broadly comparable in internationalization and applied research output. Useful peer for benchmarking Asian global research ambitions versus Nottingham's Malaysia/China strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

University of Nottingham compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance6 records

University of Nottingham financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

University of Nottingham leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

University of Nottingham subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries2 records

University of Nottingham funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds8 records

Investors8 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

University of Nottingham M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments16 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of Nottingham

What does University of Nottingham do?

Is University of Nottingham a public or private company?

University of Nottingham is a public company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was University of Nottingham founded?

University of Nottingham was founded in 1881. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.

Where is University of Nottingham based?

University of Nottingham is headquartered in Nottingham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.

How does University of Nottingham make money?

Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition Fees are the primary driver. The others are research Grants and Contracts, commercialisation and Spin-outs and syndicateRoom EIS Fund.

Who are University of Nottingham's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are Imperial College London, King's College London, University of Leeds, University of Bristol, University of Manchester, University of Edinburgh, University of Birmingham, University of Sheffield and University of Warwick. Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is listed as an emerging player.

Does University of Nottingham have an API?

No public API is recorded for University of Nottingham.

What industry is University of Nottingham in?

University of Nottingham's product category is Higher Education and Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAF, Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools, with a secondary code of EDAHABAH, Technology Transfer & Innovation-Driven Research Universities (High Commercialization). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.