Business Secretary visits Sister to see Manchester’s innovation partnership in action

The Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds MP and Small Business Minister Lord Leong have visited Sister, The University of Manchester and Bruntwood SciTech’s innovation district, to meet some of the businesses collaborating and growing in Manchester.

The ministers visited the Renold Innovation Hub on Friday, 23 October, where they were welcomed by Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester and Professor Aline Miller, Associate Vice-President (Enterprise), and SISTER Director of Place, Liz Bamber.

They heard how the University is working with business and civic partners to turn new ideas into commercial opportunities and help companies establish themselves, innovate and grow.

During a tour of the Renold Innovation Hub, the ministers visited SISTER's co-working spaces and met businesses based within the innovation district, including NeuWave Technologies, LanthaGen Bio, MolMart and Brain Feed Therapeutics.

NeuWave Technologies is a University of Manchester spin-out using artificial intelligence and ocean science to provide predictive information for offshore operations. LanthaGen Bio is a Manchester-based tech-bio company using engineered binders to recover rare-earth and other critical metals from waste and MolMart is a Manchester genomics company offering preconception genetic screening to prospective parents, while Brain Feed Therapeutics is a research-driven brand that formulates and sells natural brain health and cognitive supplements.

The ministers then visited the nearby Pariser Building where they met the founders of Concretene. The company develops a graphene-based additive for concrete that can improve its performance while reducing the amount of cement needed, helping to cut its carbon footprint.

The technology was developed at the University’s Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) and Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, in partnership with Nationwide Engineering, an innovation-led construction company co-founded by a Manchester graduate. The partnership helped take Concretene from the lab to a commercial product in just 18 months.

Partnership for growth

Sister is a joint venture between The University of Manchester and Bruntwood SciTech, bringing together research, entrepreneurial talent and business expertise to support innovation and economic growth.

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, said: “Universities have a really important role to play in driving economic growth, not just through our research and the talent we develop, but by helping turn great ideas into new businesses, products and jobs.

“Sister is a fantastic example of how we’re doing that in Manchester. It was great to show the Secretary of State and Small Business Minister what innovation looks like in practice and what can be achieved when universities, businesses and civic partners work together.”

Liz Bamber, Director of Place at Sister, added: “Welcoming the Business Secretary and Small Business Minister to the Renold Innovation Hub highlights the sheer strength and ambition of Manchester’s innovation ecosystem. Sister is designed to give pioneering companies - from AI spin-outs to breakthrough bio-techs - the physical space, supportive community, and connection to world-class research they need to thrive.

“We’re proud to be creating a vibrant home where great ideas quickly translate into real-world impact and sustainable economic growth for the region.”

The visit came ahead of an SME conference in Manchester and in the run-up to the government's forthcoming budget, which is expected to include support for small businesses.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: "Small businesses and innovation go hand in hand in this country, with so many great entrepreneurs creating and embracing new technology that sets them apart from the competition. That’s why we’re helping unlock their potential through removing £800 million worth of everyday paperwork and bureaucracy.

 "Sister is a key driver of this change in Manchester and it was excellent to meet businesses like LanthaGen Bio, MolMart and Concretene on Friday to discuss how they are turning new ideas into jobs and growth for the city."