Research impact

Groundbreaking Business School research provides innovative solutions to challenges facing industry, government and society worldwide.

Shaping policy and practice

Our expertise places us at the forefront of research that shapes both business practice and public policymaking. Members of faculty collaborate across disciplines and with external organisations to provide expert knowledge and rigorous analysis.

We have helped to shape agile working policies, developments in artificial intelligence, and risk management in the energy sector around the world. Our work has also influenced the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy, the National Minimum Wage, government investment in the creative industries, and post-Brexit trade policy.

The Research Excellence Framework assessment recognised the real-world impact of our research, highlighting our strengths as a pioneering, interdisciplinary school with a distinctive portfolio.

97% of Economics and Econometrics research and 86% of Business and Management Studies research was graded either world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*), while the impact of our Economics and Econometrics research was rated joint sixth in the UK. 

Case Studies

Research Networks and Research Mobilisation Groups (RMGs)

  • AI for Business (Network)

    Lead members: George Xu and Runyu Shi

    An interdisciplinary network exploring the opportunities, challenges and implications of artificial intelligence for business and society. The network brings together researchers interested in the development and application of AI, its impact on organisations and the future of work, and the opportunities for responsible innovation, collaboration and research across disciplines.

  • Circular Economy (RMG)

    Lead members: Mirela Xheneti and Sung Kyu Kim

    A multidisciplinary community exploring the transition from linear models of production and consumption towards more circular economic systems. The group connects researchers interested in areas including sustainable business, innovation, entrepreneurship, supply chains and policy.

  • Creative & Digital Economy (RMG)

    Lead members: Monica Masucci, Roberto Camerani and Maria Restuccia

    Bringing together researchers interested in the changing creative and digital economy. The group provides a space to explore digital technologies, innovation, entrepreneurship, creative industries and the changing organisation of economic activity.

  • Digital Operations & Supply Chain (Network)

    Lead members: Veronica Martinez

    Explores how digital technologies are reshaping operations, supply chains and the movement of goods, information and value. The network connects researchers working on digital transformation, resilience, sustainability, innovation and the future of operations.

  • Economic Theory, Behaviour & Experiments (RMG)

    Lead members: Illia Pasichnichenko and Pawel Dziewulski

    A community for researchers working across economic theory, behavioural economics and experimental approaches. The group connects colleagues interested in understanding economic decision-making through theoretical, empirical and experimental perspectives.

  • Flourishing at Work (RMG)

    Lead members: Odul Bozkurt, Emma Russell and Natalia Slutskaya

    Exploring what it means for people to flourish in contemporary workplaces. The group brings together research on work, employment, organisations and working lives, creating opportunities for discussion across disciplinary and methodological perspectives.

  • International Business & Development (RMG)

    Lead members: Makafui Kumodzie-Dussey and John Luiz

    Connecting researchers interested in international business and its relationship with economic and social development. The group provides a home for conversations spanning firms, institutions, globalisation, emerging economies and international development.

  • Labour, Development & Public Policy (RMG)

    Lead members: Sonja Fagernas and Rocco d’Este

    Bringing together research on labour markets, economic development and public policy. The group provides a forum for sharing work and ideas on questions including employment, inequality, institutions, development and the design and effects of public policy.

  • Organisational Futures Group (RMG)

    Lead members: Daniel Fisher and Ozgu Karakulak

    A space for exploring how organisations and organising are changing. The group brings together researchers interested in emerging organisational forms, changing working practices and the social, technological and economic forces shaping the organisations of the future.

  • Responsible Business (RMG)

    Lead members: Robert Caruana and Stephan Manning

    Exploring the responsibilities of businesses to society and the ways organisations respond to social and environmental challenges. The group brings together different perspectives on responsible management, sustainability, business and society, and organisational change.

  • Science, Politics & Decision Making (RMG)

    Lead members: Katerina Psarikidou and Josh Moon

    Exploring how knowledge, evidence and expertise interact with politics and decision-making. The group brings together researchers interested in how complex societal and technological challenges are understood, governed and translated into policy and practice.

  • Sussex Energy Group (RMG)

    Lead members: Tim Foxon and Matthew Lockwood

    A long-standing interdisciplinary community for research on energy and sustainability. The group connects researchers working on energy transitions, technologies, policy, markets and the social and political dimensions of creating more sustainable energy systems.

  • Sustainability (RMG)

    Lead members: Adrian Smith and Matias Ramirez

    An interdisciplinary meeting point for research addressing sustainability and societal transitions. The group connects perspectives from across the Business School and beyond, encouraging conversations around environmental change, innovation, policy, organisations and sustainable development.

  • Sustainability Accounting, Finance, Economics & Management (RMG)

    Lead members: Massimo Contrafatto and Sumohon Matilal

    Bringing together researchers interested in sustainability across accounting, finance, economics and management. The group provides a space for interdisciplinary conversations about how organisations, markets and economic systems respond to environmental and societal challenges.

  • Wellbeing Lab (Network)

    Lead members: Matilde Lucheschi

    Connects researchers interested in understanding and improving wellbeing in work, organisations and wider society. The Lab brings together different disciplines and approaches to explore what shapes wellbeing, how it can be measured, and how research can contribute to positive change.

Find out more

Contact the Research Support team at business-research@sussex.ac.uk. We work across the Business School to generate and maximise impact opportunities.

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