Universities united in research excellence
Science and Engineering South is a hub of world leading, research-intensive universities, committed to achieving a positive impact on the world around us.
Our vision
The Greater South East stands as one of the UK’s most powerful engines of innovation, home to world-class universities whose research strengthens national prosperity. Through sustained investment in high-quality science and engineering, SES empowers discoveries that improve health and wellbeing, drive economic growth, and create lasting benefits for society. By championing collaboration across our research ecosystem, we ensure that excellence today builds a better future for the whole country.
Who we are
The Science and Engineering South Consortium (SES) is made up of the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Southampton, Imperial College London, Queen Mary University of London, King’s College London, and University College London. We also work with other centres of research excellence in the UK and around the world.
In conjunction with healthy competition, collaborative research stimulates the exploration of new ideas and produces innovations that have a positive impact on society and industry.
Our researchers work on a variety of innovative projects, from slowing the ageing process to building better boats. Applications are wide and varying, providing an exciting future for UK research and industry.
To read more about how our researchers are working together and accessing shared research equipment, visit the case studies section of our website.
What we do
Access to high-value research equipment and expertise are common challenges across academic disciplines. By pooling demand and resources in science and engineering, we support our community of researchers by helping them access to a wide range of equipment and expertise.
SES has demonstrated how coordination of efforts and resources can leverage our collective expertise to deliver cutting-edge research findings that are helping society respond to its most pressing concerns. Through working together on mutual priorities such as high-performance computing, equipment and infrastructure, we seek to enable researchers to achieve things that would otherwise be impossible.
Our region
Our institutions’ catchment areas cover an area ranging from east Anglia in the east to the Cotswolds in the west, from the English Channel in the south, to the Fens in the north.
Each member institution’s location has wide-reaching inequalities. Their catchment areas include communities with some of the biggest inequality gaps between rich and poor in the UK.
Whether inner-city London, the rural east of England or the coastal towns of the Solent, our communities have their own distinct challenges, yet also many assets. Already, our members are ensuring that the impact of their research help to address some of these challenges, while also building partnerships and identifying future Science and Engineering research talent living in the communities that surround their campuses.
But our research impacts are not limited to the south of England. Many communities across the UK and the world have benefited from our members’ research activities. Partner institutions outside the region have had access to the facilities we have developed along with expertise at our universities, through collaborations and other initiatives.
Founding Principles
- Universities as regional innovation engines
Our member institutions are anchors in their regions and key drivers of the UK’s knowledge economy. They translate scientific knowledge and skills into local and national economic growth, working closely with industry to maximise the impact of cutting‑edge science and engineering. - Global leadership through investment and dynamism
These institutions remain globally leading by investing in high‑quality research and adapting in a competitive environment. This approach enables them to deliver research that not only advances knowledge but also contributes to national prosperity and productivity. - Greater South East as an innovation hub
The Greater South East is an established UK hub for science and technology. SES builds on this regional strength to foster world‑class research, support sustainable economic growth, and reinforce the area’s position as a national engine of innovation. - Collaboration for an innovation cluster
We actively promote collaboration within and beyond the UK, sharing insights and resources. Identifying and supporting joint projects strengthens our region’s innovation cluster and ensures that research outcomes are widely beneficial. - Training the next generation and delivering societal benefits
Individually and in partnership with industry and the public sector, our universities train future knowledge workers. They ensure that research excellence translates into improvements for health, wellbeing, and the environment, supporting both present and future generations. - Championing sustainable research
By championing sustainable research practices and infrastructure, our institutions ensure that scientific excellence and innovation not only drive economic growth but also protect and enhance the environment for future communities.