Launched in 2023, the KE Hub is a national initiative designed to strengthen connections between the UK’s mathematical sciences community and partners across business, industry, and government. It plays a vital role in enabling knowledge exchange, nurturing collaborations, and scaling up the impact of mathematical sciences research across the UK.
The KE Hub harnesses the academic power of 64 university departments, and currently has 96 partners drawn from across a range of businesses, charities, industries, and government departments. It provides knowledge exchange training, first-point-of-contact activities, and valuable pump-priming mechanisms to launch collaborative, impactful, endeavours.
From January 2026, the KE Hub will be jointly hosted by Bristol’s School of Mathematics and the School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology, both within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Together, these schools have a rich pedigree of knowledge exchange alongside deep expertise spanning pure and applied mathematics, data science, artificial intelligence, statistics, and engineering applications.
Professor Chris Breward, Scientific Director of the KE Hub and Project Lead on the EPSRC grant said: “We are extremely grateful to the Isaac Newton Institute for their steadfast support during our start-up phase, and we look forward to driving forward our exciting and innovative plans in collaboration with colleagues at Bristol.”
Professor Tony Mulholland, Head of the School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology at the University of Bristol, added: "We are honoured that Bristol has been chosen to host the KE Hub and act as trusted custodian of the KE Hub grant. I am thoroughly looking forward to working with colleagues from the KE Hub and across the UK to continue building on the KE Hub’s many initiatives and successes.”
Professor David Abrahams, Chair of the KE Hub Board, said: “Bristol brings exactly the combination of vision, expertise and commitment needed to support the KE Hub. We are excited to see the KE Hub continue to grow its national reach and deliver real impact for business, industry and government across the UK.”
The transition of the KE Hub grant to the University of Bristol solidifies its medium-term future, and is supported by a £2.1 million EPSRC grant which runs until 2029. Whilst the Hub will continue to operate virtually across the UK, Bristol will provide invaluable support, contribute to academic oversight and leadership, and deliver the infrastructure needed to underpin the KE Hub’s activities.