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Industry Collaboration Index

Sector Award · Industry and infrastructure · 2026

Built Environment and Infrastructure: the winner and finalists

10 finalist partnerships, chosen from 166 eligible university and company partnerships in the open record. The winner is listed first; the other finalists follow in alphabetical order of university. The winner in each category is the finalist with the highest partnership score (volume of joint work 40%, years active 30%, field-weighted citation impact 30%) in the frozen Edition 1 record. No panel, nomination or payment plays any part. Winners were announced with the index at 05:30 BST, Thursday 15 October 2026, after the corrections and opt-out window closed at 17:00 BST on Tuesday 13 October.

All award categoriesThe Built Environment and Infrastructure sector index
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Winner · partnership score 85.0, the highest in the category

University of Leeds×Arup Group

United Kingdom · company based in United Kingdom · 14 joint works in the sector · active 5 of 5 years · field-weighted citation impact 2.46
YD
Yuvaraj DhandapaniAcademic co-author · University of Leeds · 6 joint works in the partnership · ORCID
FK
Fragkoulis KanavarisIndustry co-author · Arup Group · 10 joint works in the partnership · ORCID
“Durability performance of binary and ternary blended cementitious systems with calcined clay: a RILEM TC 282-CCL, review” (2022, 47 citations)
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Chongqing University×Midea Group

China · company based in China · 13 joint works in the sector · active 5 of 5 years · field-weighted citation impact 1.31
ML
Meng LiuAcademic co-author · Chongqing University · 7 joint works in the partnership · ORCID
ZX
Zhenkun XuIndustry co-author · Midea Group · 2 joint works in the partnership
“Heating behavior using household air-conditioners during the COVID-19 lockdown in Wuhan: An exploratory and comparative study” (2021, 32 citations)
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Eindhoven University of Technology×Tata Steel

Netherlands · company based in India · 8 joint works in the sector · active 5 of 5 years · field-weighted citation impact 2.14
HB
H.J.H. BrouwersAcademic co-author · Eindhoven University of Technology · 12 joint works in the partnership · ORCID
SM
Stefan MelzerIndustry co-author · Tata Steel · 3 joint works in the partnership
“Quantitative analysis and phase assemblage of basic oxygen furnace slag hydration” (2023, 53 citations)
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Hokkaido University×Shimizu

Japan · company based in Japan · 16 joint works in the sector · active 5 of 5 years · field-weighted citation impact 1.22
RK
Ryoma KitagakiAcademic co-author · Hokkaido University · 7 joint works in the partnership · ORCID
YY
Yuya YodaIndustry co-author · Shimizu · 6 joint works in the partnership · ORCID
“Exploring the reinforcing mechanism of graphene oxide in cementitious materials through microstructural analysis of synthesised calcium silicate hydrate” (2024, 43 citations)
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Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology×Samsung

South Korea · company based in South Korea · 11 joint works in the sector · active 5 of 5 years · field-weighted citation impact 1.46
JK
Jae Hong KimAcademic co-author · Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology · 4 joint works in the partnership · ORCID
CP
Chankyu ParkIndustry co-author · Samsung · 3 joint works in the partnership · ORCID
“Properties of cement-based materials incorporating byproduct colloidal nanosilica” (2024, 13 citations)
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Korea University×Samsung

South Korea · company based in South Korea · 8 joint works in the sector · active 5 of 5 years · field-weighted citation impact 1.62
HC
Hangseok ChoiAcademic co-author · Korea University · 2 joint works in the partnership · ORCID
JO
Ju-Young OhIndustry co-author · Samsung · 2 joint works in the partnership · ORCID
“Surface settlement prediction for urban tunneling using machine learning algorithms with Bayesian optimization” (2022, 139 citations)
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Shanghai Jiao Tong University×Midea Group

China · company based in China · 16 joint works in the sector · active 4 of 5 years · field-weighted citation impact 1.79
ZW
Ziqing WeiAcademic co-author · Shanghai Jiao Tong University · 5 joint works in the partnership · ORCID
CZ
Chunyuan ZhengIndustry co-author · Midea Group · 3 joint works in the partnership
“Data-driven application on the optimization of a heat pump system for district heating load supply: A validation based on onsite test” (2022, 37 citations)
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Technical University of Denmark×Cowi

Denmark · company based in Denmark · 10 joint works in the sector · active 5 of 5 years · field-weighted citation impact 1.22
PG
Per GoltermannAcademic co-author · Technical University of Denmark · 3 joint works in the partnership · ORCID
SE
Svend EngelundIndustry co-author · Cowi · 3 joint works in the partnership
“Reliability-Based Proof Load Factors for Assessment of Bridges” (2023, 10 citations)
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University of Cambridge×Arup Group

United Kingdom · company based in United Kingdom · 10 joint works in the sector · active 5 of 5 years · field-weighted citation impact 1.36
EV
Efstratios VolakosAcademic co-author · University of Cambridge · 2 joint works in the partnership · ORCID
PL
Peter LenkIndustry co-author · Arup Group · 2 joint works in the partnership
“Structural performance of a novel liquid-laminated embedded connection for glass” (2021, 12 citations)
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Wuhan University of Technology×South China Municipal Engineering Design and Research Institute

China · company based in China · 12 joint works in the sector · active 5 of 5 years · field-weighted citation impact 1.41
ZH
Zhijian HuAcademic co-author · Wuhan University of Technology · 2 joint works in the partnership · ORCID
PY
Peng-Fei YaoIndustry co-author · South China Municipal Engineering Design and Research Institute · 2 joint works in the partnership · ORCID
“Experimental and Numerical Study on Interface Bond Strength and Anchorage Performance of Steel Bars within Prefabricated Concrete” (2021, 36 citations)

Partnership score: volume of joint work 40%, years active 30%, field-weighted citation impact 30% (shrunk toward 1.0 when evidence is thin). Joint works count half where the only company author also holds a post at the university. The named researchers co-wrote the cited paper and represent a wider team. Full rules.