Working with Businesses

What is Customer Relationship Management (CRM)? 

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems are commonplace in companies and are becoming more commonly used in universities to help manage business relationships with external organisations and partners in a more professional and consistent manner. 

CRM systems are designed to compile all types of interactions with external people across different points of contact, which could be anything from meetings and phone calls to networking events. The CRM system aims to provide users with a full picture of relationships with external organisations and provide a constant flow of reliable and quality information for staff, particularly those in business facing roles. 

Why do we need it? 

Individual departments and staff within the University are managing their own relationships with externals which could potentially lead to situations where we end up with multiple relationships with the same partner but no linkage between them.  

By having a centralised CRM system, it enables us to share key information across the University to help us make the most out of our relationships with external partners and avoid situations which jeopardise the University’s reputation. 

Microsoft Dynamics 365 at the University of Huddersfield 

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is the CRM system adopted by the University of Huddersfield. It has been customised specifically to meet the needs of our users and enable us to increase the effectiveness in how the University engages with the external world. 

For more information on Microsoft Dynamics 365 and how it can work for you, please contact the CRM team. 

Accessing Microsoft Dynamics 365 

Licenses are limited and access is on a permissions basis. If you think you would benefit from holding a licence, contact the Business Development Team

We will provide you with an initial training session and access to the test environment, before setting you up with a licence once your training has taken place. Each user is provided with their own unique URL, enabling them to access the live system. 

Intellectual Property and Commercialisation - RIKE Support

RIKE helps researchers protect and commercialise intellectual property (IP) arising from their work. Whether you're exploring an idea or ready to take the next step, we're here to support you. 

What We Do

• Assess commercial potential of research
• Arrange IP protection, where appropriate
• Help secure funding and investment to develop opportunities
• Negotiate license deals, set up spin-outs, and support collaborations
• Advise on IP ownership, contracts and strategic planning

Your Role

• Submit an Innovation Disclosure Statement (IDS) to start the process
• Be available for discussions about your research and goals
• Engage with feedback, even if commercial potential is limited
• Take part in training or preparation where needed

Key Concepts

• Types of IP: Patents, copyright, design rights, trademarks and know-how - each protects different aspects of your work and can add value to your research.
• Ownership: IP created by University employees usually belongs to the University, but moral rights (e.g. the right to be named as author) remain with the individual. 
• Contribution vs Inventorship: We focus on who contributed to the inventive concept - this may different from authorship on publications. 
• Background vs Foreground IP: Background IP is what is brought into a project; Foreground IP is what is created during it. Knowing the difference helps manage collaborations and commercialisation. 
• Publication and Protection: We support your right to publish - but if your work includes potentially patentable IP, please speak to us first. A short delay may be needed to secure protection before public disclosure. 

Get In Touch

If you're curious about intellectual property, have an idea you'd like to explore, or simply want to learn more about how RIKE can support your research, we'd love to hear from you. 

Contact: Simon Clarke (IP & Commercialisation Manager)

Download a copy of the Innovation Disclosure Statement (IDS)

Business Partnerships Team

Rebecca Macdonald, Head of Business Partnerships

Andy Buncall, Business Partnerships Manager

Ann Swift, Business Partnerships Manager

Shona Malcolm,Business Development Officer

 

School Contacts

 

School of Computing and Engineering

Simon McKenna, Business Development Director
Marie-Claire Micuta, Business Development Manager

School of Human and Health Sciences

Carson McCombe, Business Development Manager

School of Arts and Humanities

Dr Rowan Bailey, Director of Enterprise and Knowledge Exchange

School of Business, Education and Law

Nikki Hill, Research and Knowledge Exchange Manager

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships: Connecting Research with Real-World Impact 

KTPs are a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funded scheme, managed by Innovate UK, that connects businesses with innovative ideas to academic experts with relevant knowledge. These collaborations are designed to address specific challenges, deliver unmet need, and bring new innovations to life. Further information can be found on the KTP website. 

The KTP Community of Practice 

We’re building a Community of Practice for academic colleagues to raise awareness of KTPs, share KTP knowledge and best practice on taking them forward, build internal academic capacity to engage with the programme and foster collaborations across schools. 

Get Involved 

The Business Development Team leads the development and management of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) at the University. This includes supporting our portfolio of live projects, driving new opportunities, facilitating applications, and managing stakeholder relationships.

Contact us at ktp@hud.ac.uk to join the KTP Community of Practice, or for any general KTP queries. 

Use our step by step 'KTP Guide' to help you develop a KTP.