Research at the University of Edinburgh has been transforming the world since 1583.
Based on our established excellence in discovery science and ambitions for our research, we have three areas where we aim to make a significant difference. These are our research missions, full of stories of how our extraordinary research is advancing knowledge, breaking barriers and unlocking innovation.
We enjoy a strong ethos of research without boundaries. Across our five campuses our researchers are co-located with entrepreneurs, patients and professionals. In our diversity, we share a strong sense of identity and common purpose. Our staff and students come together across a wide range of disciplines and perspectives to address pressing problems across our three missions: shaping the future of health and care; tackling the climate and environmental crisis; and harnessing data, digital and AI for public good.
Learn more about the University’s Research and Innovation Strategy 2030.
We are empowering people to enjoy healthier, longer and more fulfilling lives, through innovation in physical and mental health and care.
We bring together biomedical and life sciences, physical sciences, and humanities, arts and social sciences, to address challenges of health, disease, ageing, health inequalities and health systems locally and globally. Our research applies cutting-edge methods, techniques and data, informed by an ethical and people-centred approach.
We are marshalling cutting edge data, digital and AI technologies to unlock solutions to a range of environmental, social and economic challenges.
As part of our ambitious Data-Driven Innovation programme we have committed to making Edinburgh the data capital of Europe. Our advanced computing capacity and world-leading informatics enable us to harness data and computational methods across all of our disciplines to address key challenges in a responsible and ethical way.
We are helping tackle the climate emergency, marshalling our research to understand the causes and effects of climate change, and to help communities adapt to and mitigate its impact.
We integrate pioneering research in areas as diverse as earth systems, biodiversity, farming and food, energy and manufacturing, space and satellites, health and inequalities, the circular economy, climate finance and corporate responsibility, public attitudes and environmental politics.
At the University of Edinburgh, we enjoy a strong ethos of research without boundaries. Across our five campuses, researchers share a strong sense of identity and common purpose.
Many STEM researchers tell us they wish to collaborate across disciplines and perspectives but lack the confidence to scope relevant SHAPE inputs, understand which approaches might work best or identify the right collaborators for a new piece of research.
Too often, social sciences, humanities and the arts are an afterthought. Sociologists, lawyers, designers or ethicists are brought in to facilitate the successful roll-out of a new treatment, service or product, but once it has been designed. Use this website to bring SHAPE researchers onboard early on.
Edinburgh Innovations is the University’s commercialisation service. We will help you apply your research to the world’s greatest challenges. Be inspired by the innovators who are translating cutting-edge research into real-world solutions and access the support and resources available to help you realise ambitions for your research – unlocking innovation to make ideas work for a better world.