Regional impact

Academics from SES member universities have been elected as Fellows of the British Academy in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the humanities and social sciences.

Science and Engineering South (SES) universities will play a leading role in two new artificial intelligence research laboratories funded through a £60 million investment from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The initiative will help secure the UK’s position at the forefront of AI research by attracting world-class talent, creating new opportunities for PhD students, and supporting the long-term growth of the UK’s AI sector.

Researchers and leaders from SES member universities were recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours 2026.
Honourees included distinguished academics and innovators from the University of Oxford, Queen Mary University of London, the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, the University of Southampton and University College London, reflecting the breadth of impact across health, climate science, engineering and education.

Science & Engineering South (SES) partner Imperial College London brought together founders, investors and researchers for ChemEng Enterprise Day 2026, showcasing a growing pipeline of deep-tech ventures from its Department of Chemical Engineering.

Bringing together researchers across Imperial, UCL and King’s, the London Centre for Nanotechnology has spent the last 20 years driving collaborative research at the nanoscale. We spoke with Co-Director Professor Sandrine Heutz about the Centre’s evolution, its impact, and the future of nanoscience in London.

The UK’s most powerful quantum computer will be based at the University of Cambridge. It is part of a major new partnership with IonQ, the University’s largest corporate research collaboration.

Academics from SES partner universities have been named among the inaugural Fellows of the UK’s new Academy for the Mathematical Sciences, highlighting the region’s strength and national impact.

The Academy brings together leaders from academia, industry, education, and government to advance priorities such as AI, climate, health, security, and quantum technologies.

The latest Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) data show Science and Engineering South (SES) universities’ impact on academic research, society and the economy.

The panel members for the criteria-setting phase of REF 2029 (Research Excellence Framework) were announced in September this year. SES representation across every Main Panel and Sub-panel highlights the outstanding research capability, diversity, and expertise of our universities

Universities are regional anchors and integral to their ‘place’ with many examples of collaborating on scientific research with communities. Here are some recent community-led research activities by our members.

More than a third of the impact generated by King’s College London’s knowledge exchange and research activities occurred outside the capital, a report by London Economics reveals.

More than a third of the identifiable regional-based impact generated by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) occurred outside of the capital, a report by independent consultants reveals