The RIBEN (Retail Industry Business Engagement Network) project
Despite the significance of the retail sector to the UK economy, many parts of the industry have had a limited interaction with University experts who undertake research and consultancy in the retail sector. To encourage collaboration between universities and the retail industry the the ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) Retail Industry Business Engagement Network (RIBEN) Capacity Building Cluster was created. The aim is to provide university-based researchers with experience of working on issues of relevance to the retail sector and working with clients from the sector. RIBEN brings together four of the UK’s leading retail research groups at the Universities of Southampton, Oxford, Leeds and Surrey. Together these groups have some of the strongest existing research partnerships with the retail industry, plus long-standing records of research funding involving industry. The four groups will seek to foster wider engagement of UK university-based social scientists with the retail industry, both directly, and also via acting as 'hubs' through which other researchers with retail and consumption interests can more effectively engage in knowledge production and transfer with the industry. The collective research capabilities of RIBEN’s partner research groups at Southampton, Oxford, Leeds and Surrey include expertise on issues of: The RIBEN cluster is one of six clusters funded by the ESRC to support the exchange of knowledge and capacity building. For further details see http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/esrcinfocentre/research/CapacityBuildingClusters/ For further information about the different elements of the RIBEN project see our background information document.
