Large driven piles are used widely in both onshore and offshore construction. Predicting their limiting capacities and load-displacement behaviour under a range of static and cyclic, axial, lateral and moment loading conditions is critical to many engineering applications. This paper reviews relevant recent joint research by groups at Imperial College London (ICL) and Zhejiang University China (ZJU). Two tracks of enquiry are outlined: (i) assembling and analysing a major and open database of high quality load tests conducted on industrial scale piles at well characterised sites; and (ii) modelling the effective stress regime developed around piles driven in sands. Both avenues of research are vital to enabling scientifically well-founded and yet industrially credible improvements to practical pile design methods. The scope of future joint research is also outlined.