Eastern Arc

What Eastern Arc does

Eastern Arc is a strategic consortium established in 2013 that brings together four UK universities — East Anglia, Essex, Kent, and Sussex — to facilitate interdisciplinary research collaboration. The consortium is formally the Eastern Academic Research Consortium, a non-corporate entity governed jointly by its four member universities and operated without independent commercial revenue. It serves researchers at member universities, external policy-makers, businesses in the East of England (via the EIRA innovation programme), Local Authorities (via the BLG Data Research Centre), and NHS Teaching Trusts (via the Northern Health Sciences Alliance).

The consortium's core offerings are collaboration infrastructure rather than unified software products. Key platforms and networks include the Equipment Sharing Platform (enabling cross-university access to research equipment through the Equipment Sharing Network and Imaging Platform Alliance), the Open Research Eastern Arc (OREA) Network (promoting open and reproducible research practices), the Archives and Special Collections Network, the Medical Humanities Network, and the Reciprocal Training Programme. These are supported by thematic Communities of Common Interest and a podcast and position-paper programme. The consortium runs the annual Technicians Network Symposium and operates within four strategic themes: Culture/connection/creativity, Health systems/social care/wellbeing, Human rights/equality/conflict, and Sustainability/natural resources/food.

Eastern Arc's revenue model is entirely government-funded, with no commercial pricing. Member universities received over £500m in research funding in the four years to 2018; the consortium itself has secured £4.7m from Research England (EIRA, 2020) and £4.3m from DCMS (Thames Estuary Production Corridor, 2020). It facilitates joint funding applications through Doctoral Training Partnerships including ARIES (NERC), CHASE (AHRC), and SeNSS (ESRC). Distribution is direct to member-university communities via networks, online platforms, and collaborative programmes; the consortium does not run commercial product distribution. Its strategic significance is regional advocacy and research collaboration rather than market commercialisation.

Name

Eastern Arc

Legal name

Eastern Academic Research Consortium

Website

https://easternarc.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Eastern Arc is a 2013-founded strategic consortium of four UK universities (East Anglia, Essex, Kent, Sussex) that facilitates interdisciplinary research collaboration, equipment sharing, and joint funding applications across member institutions and regional partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Research Collaboration

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541), Business Associations (813910)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with Major Extension & Outreach Missions (EDAHAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Research Administration & Grants Management Support (Pre/Post-Award, Compliance) (EDAEALAO)

Keywords

• Research consortium
• University collaboration
• Research collaboration
• Interdisciplinary research
• Academic networks

Headquarters

HQ city

Colchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Research Funding: Eastern Arc member universities collectively received £500m in research funding over four years up to 2018, supported by grants from Research England, ESRC, AHRC, NERC, and other research councils. The consortium facilitates joint funding applications and shares resources to maximize research income.
2. Project Grants: EIRA project funded with £4.7m grant from Research England supporting innovation in the East of England. Thames Estuary Production Corridor funded by £4.3m grant from DCMS.
3. Doctoral Training Partnerships: Block grant awards supporting postgraduate studentships through collaborative DTPs including ARIES (NERC), CHASE (AHRC), and SeNSS (ESRC).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Eastern Arc is a strategic research consortium of four UK universities that facilitates interdisciplinary research collaboration across its member institutions through shared equipment platforms, open research networks, thematic communities of common interest, training programmes, and joint funding applications. The consortium does not sell commercial products but provides collaboration infrastructure funded primarily by UK research council grants.

Product overview

Eastern Arc is a strategic consortium of four UK universities (East Anglia, Essex, Kent, and Sussex) focused on research collaboration. The organization provides shared infrastructure and networks rather than a unified software product. Key offerings include the Equipment Sharing Platform for accessing research facilities across institutions, the OREA Network for open research practices, and various thematic networks covering health, sustainability, culture, and human rights. The consortium also facilitates training programs and organizes events like the annual Technicians Network Symposium.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Equipment Sharing Platform Platform enabling researchers across Eastern Arc's member universities (UEA, Essex, Kent, Sussex) to access and share specialist research equipment and facilities, reducing duplication of infrastructure investment and enabling cross-institutional research projects.
• OREA Network (Open Research Eastern Arc) Regional hub of interdisciplinary researchers and professional services staff promoting open and reproducible research practices across member universities, supporting research integrity, reproducibility, and open science adoption.
• Imaging Platform Alliance (IPA) Network for imaging-related research and equipment sharing within the consortium, enabling researchers across member universities to collaborate on and access imaging technologies and expertise.
• Archives and Special Collections Network Network facilitating sharing and collaboration around archives and special collections across member universities, supporting research access to historical and cultural materials.
• Medical Humanities Network Academic network focusing on medical humanities research including articulation, experience, and embodiment studies, supporting interdisciplinary research at the intersection of medicine and humanities.
• Reciprocal Training Programme Training scheme enabling staff development and knowledge sharing across consortium universities, allowing staff from member institutions to participate in reciprocal training programmes to share expertise and build research capacity.
• Technicians Network Symposium Annual event for technical professionals across the consortium, providing networking, knowledge sharing, and professional development opportunities for research technical staff from member universities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Combined annual income exceeds £800m with over £500m research funding received in four-year period
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEastern Arc joined UKRN as 'affiliate stakeholders' following publication of their position paper on reproducibility and research integrity. The consortium feeds into UKRN's work and raises awareness across the consortium.
• ARIES Doctoral Training PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvanced Research and Innovation in Environmental Sciences DTP funded by Natural Environment Research Council. Eastern Arc members collaborate with Plymouth and Royal Holloway.
• CHASE Doctoral Training PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium of Humanities and the Arts South-east England funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council. Eastern Arc members collaborate with Birkbeck, Goldsmiths, Courtauld, Open, SOAS, Sussex.
• SeNSS Doctoral Training PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth East Network for Social Sciences funded by Economic and Social Research Council. Eastern Arc members collaborate with City, Goldsmiths, Reading, Roehampton, Royal Holloway, Surrey, Sussex.
• Business and Local Government Data Research Centre (BLG DRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESRC-funded centre providing no-fee services and expertise from Eastern Arc universities plus London School of Economics to help organisations harness data more effectively.
• University of East AngliacoreOthersMember university of Eastern Arc consortium, home to Norwich Medical School, School of International Development, Environmental Sciences, and creative writing programme.
• University of EssexcoreOthersMember university of Eastern Arc consortium, home to Department of Government, Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER), and Faculty of Humanities.
• University of KentcoreOthersMember university of Eastern Arc consortium, self-described as UK's European university with centres in Brussels, Paris, Rome and Athens. Home to Centre for Health Services Studies, Durrell Institute for Conservation Ecology.
• University of SussexcoreOthersMember university of Eastern Arc consortium, bringing interdisciplinary focus on environment, sustainability and society.
• VU Amsterdam (FORRT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFramework for Open and Reproducible Research Training (FORRT) provides structure and resources supporting teaching and mentoring of open and reproducible science.
• UK Data ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased at University of Essex, provides data management training, best practice, trusted policies and protocols for UK's largest collection of economic, social and population data.
• Aurora NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 10 universities with shared outlook across Europe, University of East Anglia is a member.
• Young European Research Universities (YERUN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrans-European network of young, research-intensive universities. University of Essex is a member.
• Young Universities for the Future of Europe Alliance (YUFE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrans-European network bringing together young, research-intensive universities. University of Essex participates in Europe-wide project to make open science the new normal.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eastern-arc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Eastern Arc