UK Businesses Seek University Collaboration to Bridge AI Skills Gap
A recent UK survey has revealed that 85% of businesses across various sectors and sizes consider skills gaps a significant threat to their operations, with particular concern over shortages in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and data analysis. The report, ‘Equipping Researchers for Impact: Unlocking the Potential of University-Business Relationships,’ commissioned by the University of Exeter Business School’s Developing Business-Aware Academics project and authored by CBI Economics, highlights the growing eagerness of UK businesses to collaborate with university researchers to address these gaps.
The survey of 235 UK businesses found that nearly half (44%) of large companies prefer to engage with academic experts in universities to tackle AI talent shortages rather than relying solely on external hiring or outsourcing. However, businesses often find the pathways to collaborate with academia complex, opaque, or poorly aligned with their immediate needs. ‘Businesses are expressing a clear wish to work with universities,’ says Louise Hellem, chief economist at the CBI. ‘At a time when the UK is seeking to accelerate economic growth, address chronic skills shortages, and embed cutting-edge technologies, the role of universities as connectors between academic research and business innovation has never been more vital.’
The findings align with a broader trend in business education. The 2025 Graduate Business Curriculum Summary Report indicates that AI is being deeply integrated into MBA and master’s programs, with schools revamping curricula to prioritize AI-driven decision-making, data analytics, and predictive modeling. Top programs are responding with not only curriculum changes but also dedicated tracks and programs focused on AI. For instance, Wharton has launched a dedicated AI concentration for MBAs, while schools like INSEAD, London Business School, and MIT Sloan are embedding AI modules across core courses.
However, the University of Exeter-CBI report warns that unless universities adapt how they prepare researchers — providing not just technical skills but also sector-specific training, immersive business experiences, and networks — a significant opportunity will be missed. ‘Researchers are a largely untapped talent pool rich in higher-level skills,’ says Professor Alison Truelove, director of the Developing Business-Aware Academics project. ‘Support for researchers must be central to strategies to reshape academia-business engagement.’
The survey also highlights that smaller businesses, in particular, value access to universities’ specialist facilities and consultancy but are often discouraged by the complexity of navigating collaboration processes. Businesses across the board are calling for simplified engagement pathways, stronger networking initiatives, and better alignment between funding opportunities and partnership goals. The report suggests that universities are uniquely positioned to act as hubs for local and national economic growth, but only if they make systemic changes to reward industry collaboration alongside academic output.
