Research has long been considered a vital part of the RCA’s pursuit of excellence and innovation in all aspects of art and design. As one of only ten top research-rated Art and Design Higher Education institutions in the UK, the College prides itself on its commitment to individual research practice, enquiry and output. With such an international reputation for excellence, the RCA attracts high quality staff and students and generates major funded projects.
In the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise carried out by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the RCA received the highest score (5) for art and design. And, in the recent Research Fortnight Research Success Rankings, the RCA achieved the highest overall success in research applications, increasing its success rate tenfold, from just six percent to an astonishing 60 percent.
The College has extensive relationships with other world-class institutions including Imperial College London, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Science Museum. As well as research council, public sector and trust-sponsored projects, collaboration with business is an increasingly important component of the College’s contribution to the creative economy.
In addition, the RCA has a proud history of developing innovative and dedicated research programmes and centres. Design London – a major strategic partnership with Imperial College, intended to create an ‘innovative triangle’ between design, engineering and technology – is the latest of these. The new venture combines creativity and expertise in design from the Royal College of Art, engineering from Imperial College's Faculty of Engineering and the business of innovation from Imperial College's Tanaka Business School. It was established following the Treasury's Cox Review, which highlighted the need to stir together the scientific, engineering, business and creative design communities to enhance business and public sector innovation.
Elsewhere, The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design has been working with industry partners to investigate the possibilities and implications of inclusive design for over a decade. In that time it has developed numerous award-winning – and potentially life-saving – designs and devices; most recently an emergency first-aid tool called the Tongue Sucker, which won a prestigious INDEX award in 2007.