The University of Edinburgh has been ranked among the world’s top universities by The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for its contribution to the UN SDGs, ranking 5th globally for innovation, industry and infrastructure The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings assess the social, environmental and economic impact of universities, assessing the performance of universities against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Image The University of Edinburgh achieved an overall ranking of 52nd, with an overall score of 91.2. Access the rankings. Leaders in innovation The University performed particularly strongly in SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, scoring 99.9 out of 100 and maintaining fifth place globally for a second consecutive year. This reflects the University’s ongoing efforts to support startups, foster collaborative partnerships, and develop research income from industry. As the University of Edinburgh's Innovation Hub for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, the Bayes Centre offers a new kind of collaborative, multidisciplinary proving ground where we develop innovative technological solutions for the benefit of society. We’re delighted to support innovative tech-focused start-ups looking to take their business idea to the next level through our entrepreneurship programmes. The Bayes Centre’s entrepreneurship programmes equip start-ups with life-long professional and entrepreneurial skills, providing them with an important foundational footing for future success. Last year over 110 student and staff startups and spinouts were supported through Edinburgh Innovations, the University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation service, attracting £107m of investment. Industrial and translational research projects brought in £72.4m of funding. As showcased in its Discovery campaigns, Edinburgh Innovations is leading work to translate the University’s academic expertise into innovative, industry-led solutions for the challenges we face today in our priority domains of climate and sustainability, data for good and future health and care. Dr George Baxter, CEO of Edinburgh Innovations, said: To have maintained our ranking at fifth globally for SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure is a fantastic recognition of the continued growing culture of innovation and entrepreneurship at the University of Edinburgh, which has sustainability at its core. “Our excellent team at EI supports students and academics – from protecting their intellectual property, to partnering with industry on short or long projects, to forming a company – to make ideas work for a better world. About the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings A total of 1,591 universities participated in the rankings this year, a 13% increase compared to the previous year. This reflects the continued growth of the rankings and increasing efforts across the higher education sector to measure sustainability performance. Each university’s overall score is generated from the score for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), plus their scores for the three top performing SDGs for which they provided data. An enduring commitment to sustainability The University of Edinburgh's commitment to sustainability and social responsibility is reflected in the University placing within the top 25% of universities for overall score in 13 of the 14 SDGs. The University’s overall ranking and score was based on the University’s efforts across research, stewardship, outreach and teaching across the following SDGs: SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals The University was ranked 4th in the world in the QS World University Rankings for Sustainability last year. Related links Times Higher Education Impact Rankings The University of Edinburgh ranks fifth in the world for Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure | The University of Edinburgh Social responsibility and sustainability at the University of Edinburgh Edinburgh Innovations University ranks first in UK for sustainability Strategy 2030 This article was published on 2024-06-06
