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." 

LanthaGen Bio was named the winner at the University of Manchester’s inaugural Innovation Festival following pitches from five shortlisted teams developing AI solutions to address real-world challenges.

LanthaGen Bio is developing technology that combines artificial intelligence, computational chemistry and physics-based modelling to accelerate the recovery of critical metals while reducing waste, costs and the need for resource-intensive laboratory testing.

Rare earth elements and other critical metals are essential to a wide range of technologies, including electric vehicles, smartphones and clean-energy infrastructure. However, recovering these materials efficiently and sustainably remains a significant challenge.

LanthaGen Bio aims to address this by developing proteins that selectively bind to target metals. These proteins known as Biomagnets, help recover valuable materials from existing waste streams, reducing reliance on conventional extraction and separation processes.

By combining computational chemistry, AI and physics-based modelling, LanthaGen Bio designs custom metal-binding proteins in days rather than months. This makes metal recovery faster, more efficient and sustainable.

LanthaGen Bio has already secured £2.4 million in grant funding, allowing their six-person team to build sustainably towards future development.

Dan Healy, co-founder of LanthaGen Bio Ltd, said: “This funding has unlocked our next project, meaning we can extend the contracts of our amazing PhD scientists in Greater Manchester, keeping talent local and allowing us to target an entirely new metal for recycling that we couldn't previously research. As well as delivering skilled employment in Greater Manchester, our product aims to vastly increase circularity and reduce carbon emissions for a metal that has no established supply chain in Europe.”

The Coller AI competition, established by The University of Manchester and the Jeremy Coller Foundation, supports early-stage ventures using artificial intelligence to tackle global challenges while ensuring technology is developed responsibly and for the benefit of people and society.

The competition attracted applications from students, staff and alumni across the University. The four other finalists were:

Health Equity Chain, building and AI tool that helps doctors and patients make better prostate cancer treatment decisions.

SporeSense, created an AI-powered early-warning system that detects crop disease before any symptoms are visible, helping farmers reduce losses and unnecessary pesticide use.

SenseVale, developing smart glasses to help blind and partially sighted people navigate their surroundings more independently.

Forkprint Ltd, developing AI-enabled models helping food businesses measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with ingredients and food preparation.

Professor Aline Miller, Associate Vice President (Enterprise) and CSO of Unit M at The University of Manchester said: “The quality of every pitch was exceptional and a powerful reflection of the ambition and growing entrepreneurial spirit across our University ecosystem. Huge congratulations to LanthaGen Bio - it has been fantastic to see how far the team has come over the past 18 months, since first winning an Ideas with Impact Award in 2025. The competition was a fitting way to close our inaugural Innovation Festival: a week full of energy, bold ideas and a real sense of excitement about what comes next.”

Jeremy Coller said: “AI will completely transform the way we live, work and communicate, solving challenges that have baffled us for generations and allowing humanity to achieve in the real world what was previously confined to our wildest imaginations. To make the most of that potential we have to support the innovators and entrepreneurs who are working so hard to unleash it, and that's what the Coller AI Competition is all about - identifying incredible people doing amazing things in the University of Manchester community and getting behind the very best of them.”

Jeremy Coller Foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of private equity entrepreneur Jeremy Coller. The Foundation supports initiatives focused on education, entrepreneurship, pensions innovation and the transition to a more sustainable food system.

The Coller AI Competition forms part of The University of Manchester’s Challenge Accepted campaign, which supports ideas with the potential to tackle major global challenges. Challenge Accepted | Give | The University of Manchester

The initiative run by Unit M brings together the University of Manchester’s research strength, entrepreneurial talent and commitment to responsible innovation, supporting students, staff and alumni.

The proposed Centre in Bengaluru will provide a permanent platform for The University of Manchester to deepen its engagement with one of the world’s most dynamic education, research and innovation ecosystems. It will help to bring together academic expertise, industry knowledge and entrepreneurial talent to address shared challenges and create opportunities for students and researchers.

Building on The University of Manchester’s successful Partner-Enabled Learning (PEL) model in the UK, the centre in Bengaluru will create opportunities for students to gain practical experience through internships, work placements and industry-led projects.

The PEL model aims to close skills gaps by embedding real-world projects with employers, public bodies and community organisations into degree programmes, ensuring students graduate with practical experience as well as academic knowledge. It focuses on developing skills such as adaptability, problem-solving, collaboration and employer engagement through credit-bearing projects and micro-internships.

The University of Manchester has established relationships with leading businesses and industry partners across India, including organisations such as Reliance, Tata and Infosys, alongside a wider network of technology companies. The Centre will build on these connections to strengthen industry engagement and create new opportunities for students and researchers.

The announcement comes as The University of Manchester joins the first-ever Great North Mayoral Mission to India, taking place from 12 to 16 October 2026. The mission brings together universities, businesses, civic leaders and cultural organisations from across the North of England to forge new connections, build lasting relationships and share expertise with India.

Bengaluru has been identified as the preferred location for the Centre due to its position as one of India’s leading hubs for higher education, technology and innovation. The city is home to some of the country’s foremost universities and research institutes, alongside a thriving community of global businesses and technology companies. Many already collaborate with Manchester’s academics and graduates, providing a strong foundation for the University’s future presence in the city.

The announcement marks a significant step in the University’s ambition to strengthen its global presence, as set out in its strategy, From Manchester for the World. It builds on decades of collaboration with partners across India and will create new opportunities to tackle global challenges by connecting Manchester’s expertise with India’s dynamic research, technology and innovation communities.

The Centre was announced at a special event at the Science Gallery Bengaluru, which featured alumni and leaders from sectors such as culture and business. The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Craig also attended and there were panel discussions on innovation and culture led by President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, Professor Duncan Ivison.

Professor Ivison said: “There is an incredible depth to Manchester’s relationship with India across education, business and culture. Our new Centre will be at the heart of deepening those relationships and I’m very excited to see what we can give, and what we can learn over the coming years.”

The University of Manchester has international centres in Dubai, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore.

The proposed Centre aligns closely with the University’s International Delivery Plan, which places global engagement as a key objective of Manchester 2035. The plan recognises that international partnerships will be central to delivering world-leading research, creating new educational opportunities, strengthening innovation ecosystems and ensuring Manchester remains a partner of choice around the world.

The University of Manchester was the first in the UK to establish a joint PhD programme with an Indian institution, launching its dual award PhD with IIT Kharagpur in 2021.

It also established collaborations with institutions including the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, BITS Pilani in fields of engineering and computer science, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific research and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education.

This visit forms part of the University's Challenge Accepted fundraising and volunteering campaign, which has included launch events in Delhi and Mumbai.

The inaugural Innovation Festival ended on a high at the Nancy Rothwell Building, where five ventures went head to head in the Coller AI Competition final, pitching live for a £100,000 equity investment from the Jeremy Coller Foundation.

LanthaGen Bio Ltd won with an AI platform that designs metal-capturing proteins computationally, helping recover valuable metals from electronic waste and onshore the UK's critical-mineral supply. CTO and co-founder Dan Healy led the pitch, and accepted the award alongside CSO Ellie Goulding, which was presented by Investment Principal Harry Kalms.

Nearby, Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressed a local summit, calling for the UK to become the world's leading "innovation nation" and praising the University's role in Manchester's innovation story. Organisers confirmed the festival returns 1–5 November 2027.

Amid the buzz of the Nancy Rothwell Building, five finalist ventures pitched live for a £100k investment at the Coller AI Competition final today. Each team applies AI to a different social challenge: LanthaGen Bio Ltd pitched their platform for combining biomolecules and machine-learning modelling to identify candidates for selectively recovering valuable metals from electronic waste—‘urban mines’—and help onshore the UK’s critical-mineral supply. SenseVale pitched smart glasses that help blind and partially sighted users navigate more independently.

Spore Sense pitched an AI-enabled system that reduces pesticide use by detecting crop disease before symptoms appear. Health Equity Chain pitched a treatment analyser that helps prostate cancer patients understand where they stand among people like them. Finally, Forkprint pitched models that analyse food business data to track greenhouse gas emissions and develop lower-carbon recipes.

LanthaGen Bio Ltd wins, turning electronic waste into a UK mineral supply

LanthaGen Bio took home the prize—presented by Investment Principal Harry Kalms from the Jeremy Coller Foundation—securing the six-figure equity investment for its AI platform that simulates how proteins and peptides bind metals, allowing new metal-capturing proteins to be designed computationally rather than found by trial and error. The approach drastically shortens development while cutting the energy, chemicals, plastic and solvent waste of repeated screening — supporting UK efforts to recover valuable metals from electronic waste and onshore critical-mineral supply. CTO and co-founder Dan Healy led the pitch, with Healy and CSO and co-founder Ellie Goulding accepting the award. The prize adds to £2.4 million in grant funding already secured, allowing their six-person team to build sustainably towards future development.

"We were pitching against the best of the best, which makes it just so exciting—it feels amazing,” Healy shared, adding encouragement for others who might be dreaming of a venture in the future, “Your idea doesn't have to be perfect... we really believed in this and it had some scientific integrity behind it. You really just go from that."

“The three co-founders at LanthaGen Bio each bring their own set of skills... they have such a positive, candid attitude. They've faced stumbling blocks, they've pivoted their thinking, but they are willing to talk to everybody, to absorb the information, and to work out which advice to listen to.” — Aline Miller, Associate Vice-President (Enterprise), University of Manchester

A week that showcased Manchester's role in building an Innovation Nation

As the University’s inaugural Innovation Week closed, Prime Minister Andy Burnham called for the UK to become the world's leading "innovation nation" at a local summit, praising the University's role in Manchester’s innovation story. Friday wraps five days of activity, with the festival hosting more than 25 events across 17 venues, including 116 speakers, 21 new ideas pitched, and over 3,000 registrations. For the University of Manchester’s President and Vice-Chancellor Duncan Ivison, the week capped 18 months of work: "We've created a new innovation agency, set up a first ever £10M Founders Fund, and launched an innovation hub on Oxford Road... I think the festival sends a big message that innovation is a huge part of our future." As the week came to a close, organisers, confirmed the event will return next year, 1–5 November 2027.

Announcements and developments

• Atom Valley takes shape: The Festival’s final day also marked a major milestone in Rochdale, where the base build of the Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Centre (SMMC) is now complete. It will give businesses in advanced materials and manufacturing access to specialist space, facilities and expertise, helping them move from concept to commercial application. The University of Manchester is lead delivery partner for the centre’s innovation ecosystem, working with Rochdale Development Agency, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Innovation Greater Manchester and UKRI. The SMMC is forecast to generate £107 million in economic value over ten years. “Atom Valley is an exciting opportunity and key to our plans to bring good growth to every postcode in Greater Manchester.” — Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester

Manchester 2035: voices from the Festival

“Having more startups based in the north would be great. We're quite passionate about putting our roots of a company down here.” — Ellie Goulding, CSO and co-founder, LanthaGen Bio Ltd

“Innovation can breed social mobility. I'd love to see more opportunities for entrepreneurs from working class backgrounds, as queer and female founders.” — Dan Healy, CTO and co-founder, LanthaGen Bio Ltd

“We have worked with over 1,500 people across the city region over the last three years to help them explore and enter into careers in AI. That is a civic responsibility... By 2035, we'll be awash with it.” — Liz Scott MBE, Coller AI Competition judge and Chief Executive Director, Turing Innovation Catalyst

The 30,000 sq ft centre is the first major physical development within the Atom Valley Innovation District (AVID), a 25-acre hub for advanced materials and manufacturing in Rochdale, bringing together businesses, researchers, investors and innovation partners in one location. AVID provides an environment where organisations can innovate, grow and commercialise new technologies, strengthening Greater Manchester's position as a leading centre for advanced materials and manufacturing. 

Completion of the building represents a major milestone for years of partnership working between Rochdale Development Agency (RDA), Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), The University of Manchester and wider innovation partners.

RDA has led the physical development of the SMMC, working with partners to secure investment and position advanced materials and manufacturing as a priority opportunity for Rochdale and Greater Manchester. The next phase will see work move from construction towards specialist fit-out ahead of bringing the centre into operation in 2027.

The RDA brought together partners from industry, academia and government to establish the Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability (CEAMS) in 2023. Since then, businesses have been able to connect with a national network of specialist expertise, facilities and innovation support through the CEAMS partners, including The University of Manchester, the Henry Royce Institute, National Physical Laboratory (NPL), CPI and NCC.

CEAMS has already supported more than 90 companies, developing new products and processes and demonstrating the value of a more connected innovation ecosystem.

The SMMC will provide a permanent physical gateway into the UK’s renowned advanced materials and manufacturing network. It will offer advanced materials and manufacturing businesses access to specialist space, facilities, expertise and the CEAMS national network of innovation support, helping them move from concept towards commercial application.

The development of the SMMC building has received £15.2 million from the UK Government's Towns Fund, £15m from the GMCA’s Good Growth Fund and £10 million from the Greater Manchester Investment Zone.

The next phase for the innovation district has received a further major boost through £16.4 million from the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF), a flagship UK government programme delivered through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in partnership with GMCA and Innovation Greater Manchester (IGM), investing £500 million to strengthen regional innovation economies across the country. The University of Manchester is the lead delivery partner for the programme, working with RDA and the CEAMS consortium of national innovation partners to activate the ecosystem around the SMMC. Independent analysis forecasts that the centre will generate £107 million of economic value over ten years, delivering a 2:1 return on public investment while helping to attract new businesses, inward investment and high-value employment into Atom Valley.

Councillor Daniel Meredith, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Housing at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The building completion of the Sustainable Materials & Manufacturing Centre is fantastic news for Rochdale residents. This landmark facility will help create new employment opportunities, support the development of high-value skills and ensure local people can benefit from some of the most exciting advances in modern manufacturing and materials science.

“We've worked hard to position Rochdale at the forefront of innovation and advanced manufacturing, and the SMMC is a clear example of that ambition becoming reality. It's a major investment in our future, creating opportunities for local businesses, attracting new employers and helping to build a stronger economy for generations to come.”

Professor John Holden, Vice-President for Civic Engagement and Innovation at The University of Manchester, said: “Completing the base build is a major achievement and testament to the partnership that has brought the SMMC this far. The opportunity now is to bring that physical investment to life by drawing together businesses, research, expertise and innovation in a way that creates lasting value for Rochdale, Greater Manchester and the UK.

“The University is the lead delivery partner charged with delivering the innovation ecosystem that will accelerate the growth of the advanced materials and manufacturing cluster already in the region, connecting our research strengths with businesses and national partners to help new ideas develop, scale and reach the market at pace, and attracting over £60 million in private sector investment. The SMMC and wider Atom Valley Innovation District is a crucial part of our commitment to driving innovation-led growth right across Greater Manchester.”

Charlotte Deane, UK Research & Innovation senior sponsor for Greater Manchester said: “Greater Manchester has outstanding strengths in advanced materials and manufacturing. This £16.4m Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF) investment backs those strengths by connecting businesses with a national network of expertise and support to turn world-class research and innovation into economic opportunity by powering the growth of an advanced materials focused cluster of companies on the Kingsway Business Park.

“The SMMC and the wider Atom Valley Innovation District show the potential of universities, industry and

civic partners working together to support innovation-led growth, unlock new supply chain opportunities, create new jobs and strengthen the region’s ability to attract and grow innovative businesses.”

Mayor of Greater Manchester Bev Craig said: “Atom Valley is an exciting opportunity and key to our plans to bring good growth to every postcode in Greater Manchester. The completion of the SMMC building is a major milestone for what will become a nationally significant hub for innovation.

“We’re providing space for businesses and connecting them with investment, world-class research, facilities and support within the wider Atom Valley Innovation District. In practice, that means more opportunities for our businesses to grow, attracting new investment to this part of Greater Manchester, and more high-value jobs for our residents.”

The milestone was announced during a week where The University of Manchester hosted its inaugural Innovation Festival, to showcase Manchester's vibrant, globally connected innovation ecosystem and bring together researchers, students, entrepreneurs, partners, investors and civic leaders to explore how ideas become impact.

Where earlier days celebrated what Manchester is building, Thursday looked outwards. The first Cambridge x Manchester Partnership Innovation Summit filled Sister to the brim with founders, researchers, investors and policymakers from both cities. Panels explored the partnership’s mission to ‘supercharge innovation-led growth’, with speakers from the University, Arm, Northern Gritstone, No. 10 North, UKRI and the British Chambers of Commerce.

Six Manchester founders pitched their innovations in lightning talks, and Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester, gave the keynote before closing remarks from University of Manchester President and Vice-Chancellor, Duncan Ivison and Shaun Grady, UK Chair of AstraZeneca. The Investor Summit continued the conversation on growth capital in the afternoon. In the evening, University of Manchester founders pitched to investors, mentors and partners at Manchester Venture Builder Demo Day, also at Sister, while Holiferm’s co-founders shared how they built their biotechnology company at The Founders Playbook at Manchester Museum.

Co-opetition: the experiment linking two innovation powerhouses

Opening the summit, Faye Holland, Partnership Director of the Cambridge x Manchester Partnership, argued that the UK's challenge may be less about talent or funding than about systems. The partnership is the UK's first deliberately designed cross-city innovation partnership, with three objectives: driving economic growth, building for global growth, and making sure that growth is good growth that reaches communities beyond the innovation economy. Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, said the UK too often gets caught in binaries, such as north versus south, and needs to "multiply our relationships, not narrow them" to compete globally.

“What typically happens is we compete. Our postcodes compete, our councils compete, our combined authorities compete… I wonder why we don't use the word co-opetition, where we bring collaboration and competition together in a really positive way… We only have three years from start to finish to prove that this model can actually work.” — Faye Holland, Partnership Director, The Cambridge x Manchester Partnership

“Cambridge and Manchester are not rivals; they are increasingly one ecosystem, and the UK innovation economy, as a whole, is stronger for it.” — Shaun Grady, UK Chair, AstraZeneca

Six ventures, five minutes each: Manchester’s ideas take the stage

Six lightning talks showed the kind of companies the partnership wants to help scale. Hosted by Dr Karim Bahou, Head of Innovation at Sister, the founders pitched for the audience’s vote. Alongside pitches from N:SYM and Nanoco, Spore Sense, which spun out of the University just four weeks ago, has developed a sensor that detects crop disease before symptoms appear. Silveray has invented flexible digital X-ray film for inspecting pipes and welds, an industry still largely reliant on analogue film. CircKit is helping fashion brands design waste out from the start, and Fava Health is bringing genomics into everyday healthcare for better personalised treatment.

“There is still a major imbalance in where innovation capital flows within the UK… Around 80% of venture capital still remains within London, Oxford and Cambridge… A big part of the opportunity is making it easier for founders to move between these two ecosystems, and share deal flow across both of these regions.” — Dr Karim A. Bahou, Head of Innovation, Sister

Competing with the world, not each other 

A panel chaired by Fiona Tuck of Metro Dynamics asked what Britain’s innovation economy still lacks. Professor Dame Jessica Corner, Executive Chair of Research England, said the UK is too small to treat its regions as separate innovation ecosystems, with capital “stuck” in the places that are already well resourced. Harriet Gordon, Deputy Director at No. 10 North, said the UK’s real competition is Boston, Silicon Valley and Paris: for investors, the choice is rarely Manchester or Liverpool, but Manchester or Munich.  

In her keynote, Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said regions need to “complement each other, not just compete with each other”, and set out a vision of good growth that people can feel in their daily lives. 

“Simply creating growth to impact on someone’s bank balance, without seeing the number of jobs increase and the quality of someone’s life improve, is just growth for growth’s sake.” — Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester 

Announcements and developments 

• The Cambridge x Manchester Partnership will launch an “innovation passport” by the end of the year, giving founders and researchers easier access to office space, accelerator programmes, investors and corporate partners across both cities.
• A joint investment prospectus for Cambridge and Manchester is on its way, Shaun Grady, UK Chair of AstraZeneca, told the summit, urging investors to “get in early”. 

Manchester 2035: voices from the Festival 

“I would hope that eight- and nine-year-olds growing up in Ardwick and Brunswick, right next to us, or a young person growing up in Rochdale, not only see the University as part of the place they live, but see it as theirs in some way.” — Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor, The University of Manchester 

“By 2035, I’d expect to see Graphene in many products, from shoes to clothing to computers to tyres to aircraft – not in there because it’s Graphene, but because it’s adding competitive advantage.” — James Baker, founder, Baker Graphene, and former Chief Executive, Graphene@Manchester 

Demo Day 

On Thursday evening, the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre and Venture Café Manchester hosted Manchester Venture Builder Demo Day 2026 at Sister. University of Manchester founders from the Venture Builder programme took to the stage to pitch ventures they had spent months testing and refining. They ranged from Remi, a platform that helps therapists manage clients and build personalised exercises, to a student startup growing organic bananas and drying them with solar power. Investors, mentors, alumni, corporate partners and a delegation from Hartford in the US then joined the founders for a showcase and networking reception, continuing the outward-looking theme of the day. 

“I’ve made more progress in the paste ten minutes of networking here than in the past 30 days of cold emailing and cold LinkedIn messaging!” — Jacob Katz, founder, AMBS, BSc Management with Strategy, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship 

"Innovation doesn't happen just because you have a great idea… Getting people that have money, people that have technology, people that know how to do business – you can't do it on your own, but you can pull them together into one location." — Gene Goddard, Chief Business Investment Officer, Metro Hartford 

Around the Festival 

Away from Sister, Sow the City shared community-led social innovation at Manchester Museum’s Growing Change event, and Sustainable Futures showcased funded projects at Inclusive Innovation for People and Planet. Beyond the Hearing Loop explored how Auracast audio technology could benefit deaf, hard-of-hearing and neurodivergent communities, and the University and national initiative, E3M met to discuss social enterprise innovation in public services. 

Coming up 

The Festival closes on Friday 9 October with the final of the Coller AI Competition, where University of Manchester AI startups pitch live for a £100,000 equity investment from The Jeremy Coller Foundation.  

The University of Manchester celebrated the very best in collaboration and knowledge exchange on Wednesday 7 October at the inaugural Partnership Excellence Awards, recognising the people, projects and organisations delivering outstanding impact through partnership working.

Held at the Whitworth Art Gallery as part of the University's Innovation Festival, the awards brought together academics, researchers, professional services colleagues and their external partners and collaborators for an evening of celebration. The inaugural awards attracted more than 120 nominations, with 25 partnerships shortlisted across eight awards. They were organised by the Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange team, led by Dr Louise Bates, Director of Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange, and hosted by compere Adam Lovell.

Welcoming guests, Professor John Holden, Vice-President for Civic Engagement and Innovation, said partnership runs through the University's Manchester 2035 strategy. “No matter how good we are as a university, we can only have the scale of impact we want by working with others,” he said. Over the past year, he added, the University has created 191 new business partnerships, around one for every working day, and now ranks first in the UK for contract research with small and medium-sized enterprises.

The awards, Professor Holden said, were about “recognising the people and relationships that make those projects possible… We all know that partnership working depends on brave people.”

This year's winners demonstrate the impact of collaboration across research and innovation, business growth, social enterprise, regional development and strategic industry engagement.

Strategic Alliance Excellence

🏆 Boots / No7 & Prof. Michael Sherratt and Dr. Abigail Langton

The long-standing partnership between Boots / No7 and The University of Manchester was recognised for its outstanding contribution to skin science and evidence-based skincare. Over more than two decades, the collaboration has translated world-leading research into products used by millions of consumers while generating significant research outputs, investment and innovation.

Regional Partnership Excellence

🏆 United Utilities & Prof. Timothy Foster

United Utilities was recognised for a long-standing collaboration with the University covering areas including integrated water management, digitisation, robotics, sustainability and skills development. The partnership has helped inform major regional initiatives and continues to support innovation and economic growth across the North-West.

Research Collaboration Excellence

🏆 FUJIFILM & Prof. Alan Dickson

The partnership between FUJIFILM and the University was recognised for advancing bioprocessing and biomanufacturing research through the Centre of Excellence in Bioprocessing 2.0. The collaboration has supported researchers and PhD students, generated high-quality publications and strengthened the translation of research into industrial applications and novel biological medicines.

Social Enterprise Excellence

🏆 One World Together & Prof. Nicola Banks

One World Together received the award for its partnership with the University to support changemaking education, community engagement and social impact. The collaboration has secured funding to work with schools across Greater Manchester, provided valuable opportunities for students, and supported community-led organisations both in the UK and internationally.

Small Business Partnership Excellence

🏆 Saraco Industries Ltd & Prof. Sarah Cartmell and Prof. Andrew McBain

Saraco Industries Ltd was recognised for a highly successful partnership that has combined academic expertise with industrial innovation to develop plastic-free clinical disinfection wipes for healthcare applications, while strengthening the company's research and development capability. The collaboration has evolved through multiple projects and demonstrates the long-term value of university-SME partnerships.

Academic Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange Champion

🏆 Dr Thomas Bannan

Dr Thomas Bannan was recognised for an extensive portfolio of partnerships that translate atmospheric science into public, environmental and economic benefit. His work spans collaboration with local authorities, industry, policymakers and communities, including leadership of air quality initiatives, Innovate UK projects and the £1.3 million RAMMIC Retrofit Innovation Centre.

Business Partnership Rising Star

🏆 Dr Milo Harries

Dr Milo Harries received the Rising Star Award for his work with Leeds City Council and the Aire Resilience Company, using creative and participatory approaches to engage communities around climate resilience and natural flood management. His work has helped strengthen cross-sector collaboration and support the growth of the Aire Resilience Company as a Community Interest Company.

Partnership Excellence of the Year

🏆 Saraco Industries Ltd & Prof. Sarah Cartmell and Prof. Andrew McBain

The evening's highest accolade, Partnership Excellence of the Year, was awarded to Saraco Industries Ltd in recognition of the depth, longevity and impact of its collaboration with the University. Through multiple collaborative projects, the partnership has combined expertise in bioengineering, microbiology and materials science to drive innovation, support business growth and develop new healthcare solutions with real-world impact.

An evening of partnership

The winners' trophies were designed and manufactured by students in the University's Makerspace, reflecting the creativity and collaboration at the heart of the celebration. The shortlist was reviewed by a panel of 21 judges from academia, leadership, professional services and innovation.

Rising Star category shortlisted nominee Dr Amy Worth had partnered with Eli Lilly and Company for a decade to study the complex neuronal circuitry that underpins the actions of GLP-1 drugs to combat diabetes, obesity and cravings for alcohol. She and lab group lead Professor Simon Luckman said that trust is at the heart of the partnership. “We’ve built it up over 20 years, so now there is very open and honest exchange.”

For Dr Joanne Tippett, whose RoundView project was also shortlisted, a good partnership requires: “It takes the ability to try something out and find out it doesn't work and learn from that and keep going and iterating on an idea.”

Congratulations to all finalists and the many colleagues, support staff and external partners whose commitment and collaboration underpins the success that these Partnership Excellence Awards celebrated in style.

Wednesday was the Festival’s busiest day yet. At Manchester to Market, spinouts supported by The University of Manchester Innovation Factory showcased their work on the ground floor of University Place, from AI-guided enzyme engineering to virtual reality healthcare training and research-led theatre.

A short walk away in Whitworth Hall, the Powerhouse of Innovation Showcase brought together the teams, programmes and partners that help those ideas grow, including a new collaboration between the Innovate UK Innovation-to-Commercialisation of University Research programme (ICURe) and the Henry Royce Institute.

In the evening, the inaugural Partnership Excellence Awards at the Whitworth celebrated the partnerships behind the University’s impact. The evening’s highest accolade, Partnership Excellence of the Year, went to Saraco Industries Ltd, Professor Sarah Cartmell and Professor Andrew McBain, whose collaboration has developed plastic-free clinical disinfection wipes for healthcare.

From enzymes to the stage: Manchester’s spinouts step into the spotlight

Manchester to Market filled the ground floor of University Place with spinouts supported by The University of Manchester Innovation Factory, whose portfolio now numbers around 84 companies worth an estimated £400–500 million. The ventures exhibiting were at very different stages. Among them, Imperagen uses an AI-led robotic lab to engineer enzymes for manufacturers. GiFT, an electromagnetic guidance system for tracheostomy procedures, improved needle accuracy fourfold in trials on mannequins, and its team estimates it could save the NHS around £50 million a year. Not every venture was a technology: Tiny Human Dramas turns anthropological research into short pieces of theatre.

“If it hadn’t been for the Innovation Factory, I wouldn’t have known I belonged in this space… In the arts, a little bit of attention and a little bit of funding goes a long way. The more of us that are in this scene, the more it’ll feel like this is innovation, of a particular kind.” — Megan Rose Donnelly, Lecturer in Social Anthropology and founder of Tiny Human Dramas

The innovation ecosystem backing Manchester’s bright ideas

The Powerhouse of Innovation Showcase in the Whitworth Hall brought together some 25 of the teams, programmes and partners that help ideas grow across the University, and one new collaboration showcased one way in which those pieces can connect. The Innovate UK ICURe programme, ran across the North from The University of Manchester, helps “commercially curious” academics find out whether there is a real market for their research by getting out and talking to potential customers, investors and regulators. Starting later this month, ICURe’s latest local endeavour will bring cohorts of materials researchers at the Henry Royce Institute together with business mentors and potential customers, adding commercial know-how to the equipment and expertise Royce already opens up to researchers, spinouts, and SMEs.

“The best part of this job is, without a shadow of a doubt, talking to these entrepreneurial leads and seeing their personal development growth… to see the light bulb come on above their head.” — Veronica Ferguson, Head of Regional Hub Operations Manager, Innovate UK ICURe

“Don’t put risk-averseness in front of innovation… In order to innovate, in order to keep moving, we’ve got to expand our boundaries… We’ve got to have the freedom to think, the freedom to challenge, the freedom to question and test. Those are the core fundamentals.” — Saeed Adam, Client Relations Manager, Executive Education, Alliance Manchester Business School

Inaugural Partnership Excellence Awards celebrate Manchester's collaborators

The University celebrated its most impactful collaborations on Wednesday evening at the inaugural Partnership Excellence Awards, held at the Whitworth Art Gallery as part of the Innovation Festival.

Organised by the Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange team, directed by Dr Louise Bates, the awards drew more than 120 nominations. The joyous event brought 25 shortlisted partnerships together, adding an extra layer of connection between academics, industry, public sector and community collaborators.

Congratulations to everyone, especially each category winner:

• Regional Partnership – United Utilities with Prof. Tim Foster, Department of Civil Engineering and Management.
• Social Enterprise Partnership – One World Together with Prof. Nicola Banks, Global Development Institute, School of Environment, Education and Development.
• Strategic Alliance – Boots/No 7 with Prof. Michael Sherratt and Dr Abigail Langton, School of Biological Sciences.
• Small Business Partnership – Saraco Industries Ltd with Prof. Sarah Cartmell and Prof. Andrew McBain, Department of Materials and School of Biological Sciences.
• Research collaboration – FUJIFILM with Prof. Alan Dickson
• Academic Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange Champion – Dr Thomas Bannan.
• Business Partner Rising Star – Dr Milo Harries.

The multidisciplinary partnership with Saraco Industries also won the Partnership of the Year Award. The relationship began with an award-winning Knowledge Exchange Partnership in 2021 that advanced materials science, biophysics and microbiology expertise into the business, enabling development of plastic-free clinical disinfection wipes that met stringent EN standards. The partnership deepened with further projects to on formulation development and collaboration on a clear, data-driven R&D roadmap. A second KTP is now developing bacteriophage-infused wipes for healthcare applications.

Professor John Holden, Vice-President for Civic Engagement and Innovation, said: “Partnership working depends on brave people.” The University applauds all the pioneers and risk-takers nominated for these awards.

Read the full awards story story.

Announcements and developments

• On Tuesday evening, the University celebrated the completion of William Kay House, putting innovation at the heart of campus and creating a new home for Unit M.

Manchester 2035: voices from the Festival

“If by 2035 we can tangibly say that, through the things we’ve supported, we have improved quality of lives, through environmental and social impact, I would feel extremely proud.” — Catherine Headley, Chief Executive Officer, The University of Manchester Innovation Factory

“I’d love one of our spinouts to get to the scale where they’re employing 10,000 people. It’s about jobs, and the impact that has. For me, that’s what it’s all about.” — Nic Gowland, Portfolio Director, The University of Manchester Innovation Factory

“Next month we’ll use it in patients in hospital… This could actually save people’s lives.” — Professor Andy Weightman, Professor of Medical Mechatronics, The University of Manchester, on his hopes for the GiFT guidance system

Around the Festival

Beyond the core events, the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre hosted an Enterprise Educators UK exchange event on partner-enabled learning, bringing together academics, University colleagues, students and industry representatives to explore how industry partnerships can be built into enterprise and entrepreneurship education. At Contact Theatre, Creative Manchester’s Re-imagining Innovation: The Value of Creative Practices, part of The Cultural Welcome festival, explored how creative writers and artists approach ideas about innovation – a fitting companion to the theatre of Tiny Human Dramas at Manchester to Market.

Coming up

On Thursday 8 October, the Cambridge x Manchester Partnership Innovation Summit brings founders, researchers, investors and policymakers to Sister / Renold Building (8.45am–1.30pm), followed by the invite-only Investor Summit (1.30pm–5pm).

University founders then pitch at Manchester Venture Builder Demo Day 2026, also at Sister (5pm–8.30pm), while Holiferm’s co-founders share their story at The Founders Playbook, Manchester Museum (5pm–7pm).

Fringe events include:

• Growing Change: Social Innovation from the Ground Up
• Social Enterprise Innovation in Public Services
• Inclusive Innovation for People and Planet
• Beyond the Hearing Loop: How Auracast is Transforming Accessibility at Manchester.

Unlocking ideas with Manchester’s future innovators

MEC Ideas Unlocked, a hands-on event at University Place, brought together students from across the University to explore what it means to think and act like an entrepreneur. Masood Entrepreneurship Centre’s Louise Taylor, Enterprise Manager, and Dan Syder, Ecosystem Development Manager, worked with students in groups as they identified a problem, brainstormed solutions, and shaped their thinking using the MEC Business Model Canvas.

For many, it was a first taste of enterprise: "Usually we have lots of ideas, but we don't know how to structure them, how to convert them into a business," said Prem Todeti, a first-year renewable energy master's student.

The event reflects MEC's university-wide remit — and its momentum. Director Lee Pugalis said the Centre has almost trebled business formation over five years, with over 80 businesses created in the last year alone.

"I never would have met any of these individuals had I not come to the event. It just demonstrated the importance of people from all over the world having different ideas, but you can still come together and make one solid foundation." — Darcey Cornish, final-year International Management student, Alliance Manchester Business School

"Today’s event showed me that every problem has a solution. Collectively, we can work together and do better." — Dr. Soumya Pujar, Master's in Public Health student, University of Manchester

Rooted in the North, global in mindset

The strongest spin-outs think globally from day one. That was the consensus at Northern Gritstone's panel at the Whitworth Art Gallery, which explored how northern start-ups can scale worldwide without losing their regional roots. From life sciences to battery technology, panellists agreed that companies go global because their innovations meet real customer needs around the world.

But global ambition need not mean leaving the North behind. Dr Nicola Broughton, Chair of University of Liverpool spin-out Extentus Pharma, said a company can run sales and a commercial hub in the United States while keeping its research base in the UK. Northern roots also carry growing weight. As Professor Sam Butterworth, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Manchester spin-out Apini Therapeutics, put it: "I think our Manchester origin builds on reputation. There is great science coming out of the Northwest."

One panellist was missing for the best possible reason. Dr Tim Echtermeyer, founder of PhovIR Technologies, a spin-out from the University's Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre, was in California meeting investors to secure the company's next funding round.

“Recruiting people with experience, I think, is the most important thing you can do to grow globally. If you get that flywheel going, that's what's really exciting.” — Joanne Hosker, Head of NG Innovation Services, Northern Gritstone

Founders find clearer routes to grow at Sister

If the Whitworth panel showed how far Manchester's strongest ventures can go, Founder Momentum Day showed how entrepreneurs take the first steps. Back for a second edition at Sister, the innovation hub on the University's former North Campus, the day connected early-stage founders with peers and more specialist advice.

Getting ready for investment was a recurring theme. In a workshop on investor readiness, Adam Clayton of GM Business Growth Hub said that investors are now backing the founder as much as the product. So, transparency, resilience and a well-organised data room, count as much as the pitch deck. He urged founders to name their rivals rather than avoid them: "Competition is good because it shows there's money to be made."

“Days like this matter for AI founders like me. You can build something technically brilliant, but you only learn how to win people’s trust by talking to customers, advisers, and other founders.” – Leyla Ari, AI entrepreneur

The afternoon's Silicon Sessions, hosted by Lewis Sayes of Silicon Mingle, swapped pitching for problem-solving. Three founders each shared a real challenge, then experts and peers worked through solutions together, including Karim Bahou, Head of Innovation at Sister, and specialists in marketing, commercial law and grant funding. "We always like to present our businesses as perfect," Sayes said. "That’s why I enjoy doing this so much, because it changes that around."

The support continues after the day. Sister runs free Thursday evening gatherings and co-working space for founders, Silicon Mingle holds a monthly mixer on the last Wednesday of each month, and Founder Momentum Day returns in a few months. As Will Pretsell of Evolve Speakers told the room at the close, "Your business is only going to grow as far as you push it.”

Manchester 2035: voices from the Festival

“Students are our most powerful innovators. So, if every student was graduating with an entrepreneurial mindset... it could be well in excess of 50,000 students. That talent pipeline is the biggest impact we can have in terms of innovation.” — Lee Pugalis, Director, Masood Entrepreneurship Centre

Coming up

Wednesday’s sessions: Manchester to Market, 09:30–13:00, Ground Floor, University Place and Powerhouse of Innovation Showcase, 11:00–16:00, Whitworth Hall.

Waitlist available: AI Innovation Café

The Partnership Excellence Awards will celebrate outstanding collaborations, partnerships and knowledge exchange activity that deliver impact across The University of Manchester and beyond… (Invite only.)

That streak of rebellion, the instinct to question the rules, try something different and find another way has remained a defining feature of an exciting and innovative career.

Lomax says studying Liberal Studies in Science at The University of Manchester in the 1960s changed the course of his life. It was a degree that combined pure science with subjects including technology, economics and the history of innovation.

“I just wanted to be an entrepreneur and build things, I love business. Manchester had the Atlas 1 computer, which weighed more than two tonnes. It was fascinating, I learned to programme and that became a transformational part of my life”.

After graduating, he took that knowledge into industry, exploring how computers could transform traditional engineering.

In the 1980s, he helped turn Misys, a small technology software company, into a global business employing thousands. In 1998, it became the first UK IT company to enter the FTSE 100.

Five decades on from that first trip to The University of Manchester as a student, Kevin Lomax has returned-this time with a £1m gift to the Founders Fund. The University of Manchester has pledged a further £2m to the fund to help students, staff and graduates access early-stage investment for innovation and business.

The University of Manchester has set an initial goal to raise £10m for The Founders Fund through philanthropic donations.

The investment will address a critical funding gap facing students, staff, and alumni entrepreneurs as they turn ideas into viable high growth companies.

The Fund is part of Challenge Accepted, the University’s ambitious initiative bringing together its global community to tackle major challenges, unlock new ideas and turn innovation into positive impact.

For Lomax, the crucial word is early.

He has spent much of his career investing in early-stage technology companies and has seen first-hand how a relatively small amount of money at the right moment can make a difference to an idea becoming a successful business.

One investment he describes has since reached a valuation of billions of dollars. But four years earlier, the company needed just $150,000 to get started.

“If it didn’t get the $150,000, it wouldn’t have got off the ground” he says.

That, Lomax argues, is the gap the Founders Fund can help address.

“The earliest stage of building a company is also one of the riskiest, 8 out of 10 early ventures may fail. That is precisely why conventional investors can be reluctant to provide the first funding."

Lomax believes that risk is essential.

“That's where the future is. New companies are where much of the future economic growth and job creation will come from. Established businesses can become more efficient and grow steadily, but it is often new businesses that have the potential to grow rapidly and create entirely new markets.”

The Founders Fund is more than simply writing cheques. It is about creating the opportunity to test an idea, learn, adapt and, crucially, sometimes fail. The courage to change direction is something Lomax understands from his own experience.

Misys began with a different ambition. Initially, Lomax wanted to develop computer-aided design technology, but he realised that the company could not build the momentum to compete effectively in the American market. He changed course, turning instead to insurance software.

For today’s entrepreneur, he believes the lesson is simple: don’t become so attached to the original idea that you fail to recognise when the market is telling you to change.

“You start off with one aim, but you quickly recognise that actually you’re going in the wrong direction, and you need to have a different one.”

There are many lessons to learn in business. For Lomax, a fundamental one is that people matter more than ideas.

When he considers investing in an early-stage technology company, he says the first thing he looks at is the people.

“You can have the best idea in the world, but if you don’t have the skill set to deliver on that it won’t succeed. And that means recognising your own limitations.”

For highly technical minds, it could mean bringing in people who understand sales, markets, finance or how to turn brilliant technology into a commercial proposition.

“Understand what needs to be done and trust in the right people to do it.”

The Founders Fund will be launched at the beginning of a week-long programme of activity across The University of Manchester’s inaugural Innovation Festival.

High-potential ventures are expected to typically receive investments of £25,000 to £250,000, in return for a small, non-controlling equity stake. The call for applications is expected to open in January 2027.

Lomax says there is so much to celebrate about Manchester - its innovation, cultural diversity, and welcoming spirit. For him, bringing entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and students together is valuable because nobody knows where the next idea will come from.

“Innovation requires people to put ideas on the table, challenge them and see what happens.”

Lomax fondly remembers doing just that in the early days of his career.

“We would finish work and head to the pub, where they would debate what the company should do next.”

“It was a very creative process where people were coming up with ideas all the time, obviously not all good.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

“The important thing is creating an environment where people feel able to suggest something different.”

The University used the opening day of the Innovation Festival to launch A Powerhouse of Innovation, a delivery plan designed to help create “Europe’s most inclusive and impactful innovation ecosystem” by 2035 as part of the University’s Strategy to 2035. The plan sets out how the University will broaden innovation beyond technology transfer and spinouts to include partnerships, skills, communities and social impact.

Announcing a new £10 million University Founders Fund to help students, staff and alumni turn promising ideas into viable businesses, Professor Aline Miller, Associate Vice-President for Enterprise and Chief Scientific Officer at Unit M at The University of Manchester, said: “Innovation is for everyone, and it’s not just about technology. It’s about doing new things, new ways.” Professor John Holden, Vice-President for Civic Engagement and Innovation and Chief Executive Officer, Unit M added: “We like to talk about those $1 billion unicorns. But innovation is really about helping solve societal challenges.” He aspired to Manchester becoming home to the first “social unicorn” using innovation to improve one billion people’s lives.

Founder and University of Manchester board member at Mattillion, Matt Scullion agreed that Manchester is poised for success in the global community by 2035: “It’s a lovely turnabout that I think other city regions in the UK and Europe are looking to Manchester as this beacon of innovation and growth. And, you know, that’s not been an overnight thing, but it’s also not stopping.”

Planning for Manchester as a centre for inclusive innovation

A panel chaired by Elvira Uyarra, Professor of Innovation Studies at Alliance Manchester Business School and Executive Director of the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, asked how the University’s ambition for Europe’s most inclusive innovation ecosystem might translate into delivery. Dr Julian Skyrme, Executive Director of Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement, framed inclusion around three questions—innovation for whom, by whom, and how—arguing that affected communities must help shape decisions.

Professor Johannes Glückler (University of Munich) urged Manchester to build relationships between currently disconnected sectors, citing Coventry’s linking of automotive and gaming clusters. Professor Meric Gertler (University of Toronto) said research excellence alone does not guarantee local benefit, but universities can deliberately change that, backed by “local, patient” capital.

Lisa Dale-Clough, Director Economy at Greater Manchester Combined Authority, highlighted the Atom Valley innovation district in Rochdale and said inclusive innovation must improve job quality and solve local problems.

Manchester's impact in early-stage ventures

From life sciences spinouts to next-generation diagnostics, innovators at the Festival shared what it takes to turn promising research into real-world solutions. Dr Alexander Stokes, a founder of Imprinted Diagnostics, described his mission to build a portable blood-testing platform based on innovative molecular imprinted polymer technology. He’s grown the company from a two-person team to a wider network of 30 collaborators and is now looking to the US for investors. Professor Sam Butterworth (Apini Therapeutics) highlighted how University support, translational funding and investor backing helped transform early-stage research into a multimillion-pound venture now advancing towards clinical trials. Across the session, speakers emphasised the importance of collaboration, persistence and learning from setbacks. As Matt Scullion, founder of Manchester AI and data unicorn Matillion, reflected: “We've got this deep reservoir of academic and scientific expertise here... I think we can figure out ways to put it together and build the consequential companies of tomorrow better.”

Announcements and developments

• The University of Manchester is launching a £10m Founders Fund to provide crucial pre-seed investment for the next generation of entrepreneurs. Read the full story.

Coming up

Students at Manchester won’t want to miss Tuesday’s MEC Ideas Unlocked event, 10:00-16:00, The Atrium, University Place. Find out more → https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ideas-unlocked-tickets-1994566716742

Join one of Tuesday’s fringe sessions, including a panel session “Building companies that are rooted in the North but Global in mindset” sponsored by Northern Gritstone, 10:15-12:00, Whitworth Art Gallery. Reserve your spot → https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/building-companies-that-are-rooted-in-the-north-but-global-in-mindset-tickets-1999374881091

The University has set an initial goal of raising £10 million for the Fund, predominantly through philanthropic support.

So far, the Founders Fund has received a £2m commitment from the University and a £1m philanthropic gift from alumnus and technology entrepreneur Kevin Lomax.

The announcement marks the beginning of a week-long programme of activity across the University's inaugural Innovation Festival.

The Founders Fund will address a critical funding gap facing students, staff, and alumni entrepreneurs as they turn ideas into viable businesses. Alongside investment, founders will be connected to Unit M’s wider innovation ecosystem, giving them access to support, expertise, and networks as they launch and grow their ventures. As ventures develop, they will be better positioned to attract further private investment, including potential seed-stage backing from investors such as Northern Gritstone.

It will provide founder-friendly equity investment to high-potential start up and spin out ventures affiliated with the University, helping entrepreneurs launch and grow ambitious companies, attract follow-on private investment, and retain entrepreneurial talent within the region.

The Fund is part of Challenge Accepted, the University’s ambitious initiative bringing together it’s global community to tackle major challenges, unlock new ideas and turn innovation into positive impact.

Returns from successful investment will be reinvested in future ventures, helping to support successive generations of university entrepreneurs.

Over time, the Fund will contribute to the University’s ambition to create Europe’s most inclusive and impactful innovation ecosystem by 2035, while generating lasting financial, economic, and reputational value for the University and the region.

Professor Aline Miller, Associate Vice President (Enterprise) and CSO, Unit M at The University of Manchester, said:

“I am incredibly excited to be launching the Founders Fund. It represents a strong commitment from the University to our innovation agenda and to backing talented students, colleagues and alumni who have the ambition to turn great ideas into high-growth ventures. I am looking forward to seeing the quality of ideas that come through the pipeline and helping more founders take their first steps towards impact.”

Kevin Lomax, University of Manchester alumnus and entrepreneur said:

“The University of Manchester has fantastic technology, research, and graduates, as well as an incredible culture and environment. I want to see it become a real heartbeat of the UK. I hope the Founders Fund will help create a legacy, supporting entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into businesses, creating jobs, and helping drive economic growth.”

Investments are expected to range from £25,000 to £250,000, typically in exchange for a small, non-controlling equity stake.

The inaugural call for applications is expected to open in January 2027.

End

Applications are now open for the second cohort of the Unit M deep tech accelerator: Greater Manchester’s programme for researchers, technical founders and early-stage ventures turning scientific and engineering breakthroughs into investment-ready ventures. 7–10 ventures will be selected, with applications open to eligible teams across Greater Manchester.

Delivered by Unit M, The University of Manchester's innovation unit, and backed by Greater Manchester Investment Zone funding, the programme runs from November 2026 to April 2027. Applications close 19 October 2026.

The deep tech accelerator is designed specifically for founders and researchers developing technologies rooted in significant scientific discoveries or engineering advances.

Unlike traditional startup programmes, it focuses on the unique challenges associated with commercialising deep tech innovations, helping participants navigate the journey from breakthrough research to investable business.

Many early-stage deep tech innovations need focused support to navigate the journey from research and development to commercial and societal impact.

Earlier in 2026, cohort 1 supported 10 deep tech ventures from across the University and the region working on next-generation health technologies, clean energy, advanced materials, agritech and space technologies.

Patrick Sarsfield, Founder and CEO of Graphene Thermal, and a member of the deep tech accelerator cohort #, said: “The Unit M deep tech accelerator is what we needed to prepare ourselves to be investment ready. All of the mentorship and guidance that we’ve had has come through the university support system. It’s really been at the centre of getting this business off the ground.”

Tim Bailey, Founder and CEO of WarmTronics, and a member of the deep tech accelerator cohort #1, said: “The accelerator helped us move forward in our commercialisation journey. Funding allowed us to do marketing and customer discovery that we initially wouldn't be able to afford. Off the back of that, we did an exhibition in London, we met with a major supermarket chain and we're now looking at trialling our products with them.”

Why apply?

Teams selected for cohort #2 of the programme will receive £25,000 in equity-free funding, alongside dedicated commercialisation support, access to specialist mentors and industry experts, customer discovery and market validation frameworks, and training on how to pitch effectively to investors.

Each venture will also benefit from support from experienced University of Manchester MBA students and the opportunity to present to investors and strategic partners at a dedicated demo day.

The programme is open to researchers, founders and spinouts from universities across Greater Manchester, as well as technical founders from the region's wider deep tech community. Building on the success of the inaugural cohort, cohort #2 will place an increased emphasis on engaging teams from across the city-region, reflecting a continued commitment to strengthening Greater Manchester's deep tech ecosystem.

What is deep tech?

Deep tech refers to technologies built on significant scientific discoveries or engineering advances that create new capabilities and solve real-world problems.

Areas of interest for the programme include:

· Advanced materials and manufacturing;

· Quantum technologies;

· Artificial intelligence and data infrastructure;

· Biotechnology and health technologies;

· Climate and energy technologies;

· Robotics and automation;

· And space and aerospace technologies.

Who is eligible?

We are looking for teams or individuals based in Greater Manchester who are ready to spend six months building towards investment. We are looking for:

• Researchers whose work has commercial potential you haven't yet acted on, or
• Technical founders with a working prototype or early validation.

Not sure if you’re eligible? Come along to our info sessions on 29 September and 12 October or ask us directly by emailing community@unit-m.co.uk. Or join us at the Powerhouse of Innovation Showcase on 7 October, during the Innovation Festival, where we will have a stand and can answer your questions.

Ready to apply?

Applications close 19 October 2026, with space for 7–10 teams in cohort #2.

Start your application

Further details on eligibility, information sessions and the application process are available via the deep tech accelerator page on Unit M’s website.

Key dates

• Applications close: 19 October 2026
• Information sessions: 29 September and 12 October 2026
• Programme delivery: November 2026 to April 2027

Why Greater Manchester, why now?

The deep tech accelerator is part of a wider ambition to make Greater Manchester a leading hub for deep tech innovation, supported through the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s (GMCA) Investment Zone funding. It is designed to help strengthen the region’s growing deep tech ecosystem by connecting founders with expertise, networks and opportunities for growth.

Bridging the gap between research and commercialisation, the programme provides the expertise, connections and support needed to help turn deep tech innovation into investable businesses with the potential for significant societal and economic impact.

The University of Manchester and the Jeremy Coller Foundation have announced the finalists for the Coller AI Competition with one early-stage venture set to receive a £100,000 equity investment to help turn it’s responsible AI innovation into a growing venture.

The competition attracted applicants from student, colleagues and alumni and brings together the University’s research strength, entrepreneurial talent and commitment to responsible innovation. It aims to identify and support founders developing AI solutions that are not only commercially promising but designed to benefit people and society.

The shortlisted Teams are:

Health Equity Chain

Health Equity Chain is building the Treatment Analyser System, an AI tool that helps doctors and patients make better prostate cancer treatment decisions. It shows a patient where they stand among people like them, making complex clinical information clear, understandable and equitable.

LanthaGen Bio Ltd

LanthaGen Bio has built an AI platform that simulates how biomolecules (proteins and peptides) bind metals, so new metal capturing proteins can be designed on a computer instead of found by trial and error. By drastically shortening the process it removes the energy, chemicals, plastic and solvent waste that repeated screening consumes.

SporeSense

SporeSense has built an AI-powered early-warning system that detects crop disease before any symptoms are visible. This lets farmers act early, cutting crop losses, reducing unnecessary pesticide use, and supporting more resilient, sustainable food production as climate change increases pressure on global agriculture.

SenseVale

SenseVale makes smart glasses that help blind and partially sighted people independently navigate their surroundings with minimal assistance. Sensors in the frame pick up what is around you, and the glasses tell you what they find through sound and vibration.

Forkprint Ltd

Forkprint is developing AI-enabled models that analyse any given food business’ data, such as recipes, menus and supplier information, to provide accurate greenhouse gas emissions GHGE information. This will enable food service businesses to assess and track the GHGE coming from their ingredients and food preparation processes, as well as rapidly develop lower-carbon recipes.

The initiative forms part of The University of Manchester’s Challenge Accepted campaign, which supports ideas with the potential to tackle major global challenges.

The Coller AI Competition is supported by the Jeremy Coller Foundation, the philanthropic vehicle of private equity entrepreneur Jeremy Coller. The Foundation supports initiatives focused on education, entrepreneurship, pensions innovation and the transition to a more sustainable food system. By supporting ambitious ideas, the Foundation helps drive lasting change and empowers the next generation of innovators and problem solvers.

The winner will be announced at The University of Manchester Innovation Festival on the 9^th of October 2026.

The University of Manchester Innovation Festival takes place Monday 5th October to Friday 9th October 2026

https://www.manchester.ac.uk/collaborate/innovation-festival/events/?utm_source=insider&utm_medium=digital_newsletter&utm_campaign=innovationfestival26

The results demonstrate renewed momentum in the commercialisation of research originating from The University of Manchester (UoM), as the institution puts increasing focus on innovation as part of its ambitious 2035 Strategy.

As the University's dedicated technology transfer office, the Innovation Factory works with researchers to develop early-stage ideas, helping identify commercial potential, protect intellectual property and determine the best route to market. Its support continues through licensing and spinout creation, investment readiness and the longer-term development of companies within its portfolio.

The 11 new spinouts reflect the breadth of research and innovation taking place across the University:

• Grid Stability Ltd, building AI-driven stability assessment tools for modern power systems, reducing cost and carbon while improving stability.
• Lutèo Medical Ltd, developing new clinical eczema solutions based on microbiome science.
• SpinOr Ltd, pioneering a compact and modular superconducting quantum computer design.
• Imprinted Diagnostics Ltd, developing rapid diagnostics, with its first product focused on heart attack triage.
• ColoriQuo Ltd, developing sustainable structural colour technologies inspired by nature.
• FLAG-Me SAFE Ltd, creating digital safeguarding tools to help pharmacies better support people with sight and hearing impairments.
• Pacentrica Ltd, creating digital technologies for pain assessment and long-term pain management.
• Precica Ltd, developing technology to significantly reduce data storage requirements while keeping information searchable and accessible.
• InformiX Pharma Ltd, using advanced three-dimensional imaging to improve the development and manufacture of medicines.
• Zenithym Ltd, commercialising semiconducting polymer nanoparticles for a range of industrial and medical applications.
• C3 Biotechnologies Ltd, converting industrial waste streams into sustainable chemicals and high-value products.

Dr Catherine Headley, CEO of the University of Manchester Innovation Factory, said:

“This has been an incredible year for the Innovation Factory and the results reflect the breadth and quality of innovation emerging from across the University, the strength of our spinout portfolio, and the quality of service that we provide. We are extremely proud of the progress that we have made this year as we build the foundations to play a key role in the University’s innovation plans.”

Investment and the next generation of opportunities

Companies across the Innovation Factory portfolio secured over £56 million in external investment during 2025/26, providing crucial capital needed to develop technologies, attract talent, establish partnerships and move towards commercial scale.

Alongside supporting its established spinout portfolio, the Innovation Factory continues to develop the pipeline of opportunities that could become the University’s future spinouts and licenses.

During 2025/26, the team supported over 300 researchers from across the University’s schools and faculties at the early stages of commercialisation, helping them explore opportunities to create positive impact, develop intellectual property strategies and identify the most appropriate commercial outcomes for their research. This represents the highest level of researcher engagement with the Innovation Factory in five years, reflecting significant growth in the number of individuals accessing commercialisation support.

Professor John Holden, Vice President for Innovation and Civic Engagement said:

“Commercialisation is an important part of translating research into wider economic and societal benefit and positive impact. These results show the value of the rich innovation ecosystem that we are establishing in Manchester and the expertise within the Innovation Factory allows us to support our researchers from the earliest stages.”

A growing innovation ecosystem

The Innovation Factory’s work is increasingly enhanced by a wider innovation ecosystem across the University and Greater Manchester.

In addition to the support from the Innovation Factory, staff, students and alumni can benefit from varied UoM specialist services and programmes including Unit M, Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange and the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, alongside initiatives such as Ideas with Impact, developed by the University’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations.

To find out more about the Innovation Factory, visit www.uominnovationfactory.com [uominnovationfactory.com]

The week-long Festival will celebrate and showcase the people, partnerships and ideas that are helping to shape the future through research, enterprise and collaboration.

Through hands-on workshops, live demonstrations, awards, talks and networking opportunities, attendees will have the chance to explore Manchester’s vibrant and globally connected innovation ecosystem and discover how ideas are translated into real-world impact.

Professor Aline Miller, Associate Vice-President for Enterprise at The University of Manchester said: “Innovation happens when brilliant people, ideas and partnerships come together. The University of Manchester Innovation Festival is an opportunity to showcase the extraordinary innovation taking place across our University and to connect our researchers, students, entrepreneurs, partners and investors with new opportunities to collaborate.

“Aligned with our Manchester 2035 strategy - From Manchester, for the World - the Festival reflects our ambition to turn world-leading ideas into real-world impact that delivers benefits for people, places and communities locally and globally."

Whether developing a new idea, looking for collaborators, exploring investment opportunities or simply curious about innovation, attendees will be able to connect with experts, innovators, students, funders and partners from across the University and beyond.

Register your interest

Registration details, speakers and the full programme will be announced in the coming months.

Register your interest and sign up for updates at https://www.manchester.ac.uk/collaborate/innovation-festival/

Pathways for Growth and Prosperity: A Blueprint for Skills Development in Greater Manchester outlines how partners can work more closely together to better understand local skills needs, create clearer routes into employment, and ensure learners can access the opportunities that are right for them. It has been developed alongside Greater Manchester's Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) and coincides with the United Nation’s World Youth Skills Day.

Drawing on the first combined analysis of further education, higher education and employer demand data across Greater Manchester, the report provides a detailed, evidence-based picture of current and future skills needs across the city-region.

Professor John Holden, The University of Manchester’s Vice-President for Civil Engagement and Innovation said: "This report is an important step forward in developing a more connected skills system for Greater Manchester. It is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when universities, colleges, employers and public sector partners work together.

“At The University of Manchester, developing the skills and talent our city region needs is central to delivering our Manchester 2035 strategy. By working with partners to strengthen pathways into learning and employment, we can play our part in creating a more inclusive and prosperous Greater Manchester, ensuring that more people and businesses can benefit from the opportunities being created in our city region.

“We look forward to continuing to work with our partners across Greater Manchester to turn the report's recommendations into action."

Andy Dainty, Manchester Metropolitan University's Vice Provost and Pro-Vice Chancellor Education, who co-led the project, said: “Our new report sets out practical recommendations to help ensure that post-16 education and training provision is shaped by local demand, supports priority sectors and responds to the changing needs of employers and learners.

“At its heart, this work is about increasing options at Level 4 and 5 (advanced vocational qualifications that build specialist skills), strengthening pathways into skilled employment, and ensuring people can access learning that is right for them.

“Grounded in evidence and developed alongside the Local Skills Improvement Plan, this collaboration brings post-16 providers together around a common goal – to deliver skills provision that is rooted in local need, responsive to employer demand, and focused on improving outcomes for learners and communities.”

Julia Heap, Chair of GMColleges, said: “This report is an important step towards creating a more joined-up skills system for Greater Manchester. By bringing together partners from across education, employers and the public sector, it sets out a shared approach to developing the skills our economy needs.

“GMColleges is proud to have supported this work, which recognises that collaboration is key to creating clearer pathways into skilled employment and supporting inclusive growth across the city region.”

The report’s recommendations are centred on four priorities:

1. A single, integrated data system: Creating a shared, Greater Manchester-wide view of learner journeys from education into employment, to enable better planning and accountability.

2. A coordinated approach to careers and pathways: Providing a single source of truth for learners, improving understanding of both academic and technical routes and supporting informed choices.

3. Employer voice embedded throughout the system: Moving to a more systematic, region-wide approach to employer involvement in curriculum design, delivery and progression.

4. Flexible, modular pathways across institutions: Enabling learners to move between colleges and universities, build skills over time, and access short, industry-aligned learning.

The recommendations are designed to support Greater Manchester's ambitions for good growth by helping learners access opportunities in key sectors while ensuring employers can recruit and retain the talent they need.

They are closely aligned with the overarching priorities of the LSIP, ensuring that post-16 education and training provision responds effectively to local skills needs. In particular, the recommendations address employer-identified challenges around increasing employer engagement with the skills system and training uptake, and enhancing careers education, information, advice and guidance (IAG).

As set out in the report, learners currently face disjointed pathways and unclear progression routes, particularly for non-traditional Level 6 options; curriculum can struggle to keep pace with rapidly changing employer skills needs; data is inconsistent and disconnected, limiting system-wide insight; and alternative pathways at Levels 4 and 5 remain small in scale.

At the same time, analysis shows strong foundations to build on. University enrolments in priority sectors have grown 29% since 2019/20 and an average of 40% of graduates remain in city region – retaining more Greater Manchester graduates than any other region attracts. These graduates go on to secure full-time employment within 15 months of graduation.

Nicola McLeod, Director of Education, Work and Skills at Greater Manchester Combined Authority, said: “Greater Manchester has a clear ambition: we want residents to gain the skills they need to move into good jobs, while supporting employers to build the workforce they need to grow. 

“This report reflects Greater Manchester at its best, bringing together employers, colleges, universities and partners behind a shared vision for how we develop the skills, education and training our city region needs.  

“By listening to what businesses need and acting on the same evidence, we can align learning with real jobs, give residents clearer routes into good careers and ensure even more people benefit from the opportunities being created across our city region.” 

Emma Holt, President and in-coming CEO of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce said: “Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce is delighted to be a partner in this important piece of work. As the Employer Representative Body for the region’s Local Skills Improvement Plan, we are acutely aware of the skills challenges businesses and employers face, and the need for continued action to solve these issues, which is fundamental to the prosperity of the city region.

“This report is another example of collaboration between key stakeholders, and, aligning with the Local Skills Improvement Plan, includes the systematic embedding of the employer voice as a core recommendation.”

The University of Manchester has launched a new responsible AI competition in partnership with the Jeremy Coller Foundation, offering a £100,000 equity investment to support one promising early-stage venture from its global community of students, staff and alumni.

Applications are now open for the Coller AI Competition, which is designed to help innovators develop ventures with real-world potential – ensuring technology empowers rather than excludes. The competition will support solutions that use AI in ways that are fair, transparent, sustainable and focused on social benefit. The winner will benefit from the opportunity to work closely with the Jeremy Coller Foundation team to develop their venture.

The initiative forms part of the University’s Challenge Accepted campaign, which champions ideas with the potential to tackle major global challenges.

Backed by Manchester alumnus and philanthropist Jeremy Coller, the competition brings together the University’s research strength, entrepreneurial talent and commitment to responsible innovation. It aims to identify and support founders developing AI solutions that are not only commercially promising but designed to benefit people and society.

Finalists will pitch their ventures at the University’s Innovation Festival in October, where the winner will be selected to receive the £100,000 investment.

Professor Aline Miller, Associate Vice President (Enterprise) at The University of Manchester, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to back one early-stage venture with the support and investment needed to develop responsible AI with real-world potential. We’re looking for founders who want to build something purposeful, practical and capable of making a positive difference.”

Jeremy Coller said, “The AI revolution is already changing and shaping our world at a dizzying speed. Used smartly and responsibly AI can be the key that unlocks solutions to some of the greatest challenges facing this planet, and the Coller AI Competition will help Manchester students, staff and alumni turn that potential into reality.”

The Coller Foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of private equity entrepreneur Jeremy Coller. The Foundation works to create positive impact on globally significant issues with a focus on education, entrepreneurship, pensions innovation and the transition to a more sustainable food system. By supporting ambitious ideas, the Foundation helps drive lasting change and empower the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.

Application timeline – 2026

The competition is open for applications from any students, staff or alumni from across the University who are working on an AI-driven business. At least one founder in each team must be within one of these categories.

• 14^th July – applications open
• 1^st September – applications close
• 21^st September – finalists notified
• 9^th October – final pitches and award

Find out more and apply now – https://unit-m.co.uk/coller-ai-2026

Join us for a week-long celebration of innovation, from Monday, 5 to Friday, 9 October 2026.

InformiX Pharma, C3 Biotechnologies, Precica and FLAG-Me SAFE have each reached important milestones in their commercialisation pathway, joining Grid Stability, Luteo Medical and SpinOr as University of Manchester spinouts created during the current financial year.

Working alongside academic founders throughout the commercialisation process, the Innovation Factory provides expertise in intellectual property and business strategy, business development, licensing, company formation and investment readiness, helping researchers navigate the journey from discovery to market.

The latest companies reflect the breadth of innovation emerging from The University of Manchester.

InformiX Pharma has developed specialist three-dimensional advanced imaging technology to give pharmaceutical companies un-precedented understanding into the internal structure of medicines, resulting in faster product development, improved product quality and more informed decision making.

C3 Biotechnologies is developing innovative microbial technologies that convert industrial waste streams, including carbon dioxide, into sustainable chemicals and high-value products, helping accelerate the transition to more sustainable industrial manufacturing.

Precica is helping organisations manage growing volumes of data through innovative technology that dramatically reduces storage requirements, allowing information to be searched and analysed without first unpacking it.

FLAG-Me SAFE has developed an innovative digital safeguarding platform that helps pharmacists and medical professionals identify individuals with a visual and other communication impairments earlier, supporting them with medication needs in a safe way.

Dr Catherine Headley, Chief Executive Officer of The University of Manchester Innovation Factory, said: “These four companies demonstrate the remarkable breadth of innovation emerging from The University of Manchester. From helping people manage their medication more safely, to enabling more sustainable manufacturing, and transforming the way organisations manage data, each has the potential to make a meaningful difference.

“Supporting researchers as they translate ideas into successful businesses, is what the Innovation Factory exists to do. We are proud to have worked alongside these talented founding teams throughout their commercialisation pathway, and we are excited to see how their innovations will benefit people, industry and communities around the world.”

Alongside company formation, the Innovation Factory continues to work with researchers across the University to identify commercial opportunities and help innovations reach the people and industries that can benefit from them.

The new laboratory has been designed as a shared research and innovation space, providing GEIC partners, researchers and technology developers with access to specialist facilities that support a growing range of bioengineering applications. 

Built to Containment Level 2 (CL2) standards and approved for Genetically Modified Organism Class 1 (GM1) work, the facility significantly broadens the scope of projects that can be undertaken within the GEIC. The addition strengthens the Centre's ability to support organisations seeking to develop and scale innovations that combine advanced materials, biotechnology and engineering. 

The laboratory opens new possibilities across a range of application areas, including biosensing, antimicrobial technologies, environmental monitoring, mineral extraction, healthcare and sustainable industrial processes. Supported by GEIC's experienced team of application specialists, the facility will help partners accelerate the development and commercialisation of new technologies. 

The new facility complements the GEIC's existing capabilities in materials development, de-risking and scale-up, providing an environment for multidisciplinary projects that combine biological and advanced materials. 

Since the opening of the GEIC in 2018 we have had to be responsive to industries and the market’s needs. This new bioengineering facility shows our commitment to investing in keeping the GEIC a relevant world class facility. – Phil Hirst, Technical Manager, GEIC. 

The bioengineering laboratory reflects the GEIC's continued evolution in response to emerging industry needs, creating new opportunities for collaboration and the translation of research into commercial applications. It further strengthens the GEIC’s position as a leading hub for advanced materials innovation and industrial partnership. 

To discover how the GEIC can support your next project, explore our full range of capabilities: https://www.graphene.manchester.ac.uk/geic/our-capabilities

The University of Manchester, working with partners across the Greater Manchester region and beyond, has played a leading role in securing £50m investment from UK Research and Innovation’s Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF) that drives innovation-led growth across Greater Manchester.  

The University is lead delivery partner on two projects and will be a delivery partner on the remaining three across the wider funding programme, announced today (17 June 2026) by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.  

Together the whole portfolio is worth £50m and covers nationally significant sectors including advanced materials & manufacturing, digital, cyber & AI, health innovation & life sciences, and low carbon technologies. These projects will attract private investment, create skilled jobs, support business growth and strengthen Greater Manchester’s position as a globally competitive innovation region.  

The Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF) is a flagship UK government programme - delivered through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) - investing up to £500 million to strengthen regional innovation economies across the country. 

Forming a central pillar of the government's modern Industrial Strategy and Plan for Change, the Fund brings together local leaders, businesses and research organisations to build on regional strengths to create new jobs, drive innovation-led productivity and attract further public and private investment into communities across the UK. 

Atom Valley Innovation District 

The University is lead delivery partner in the £16.4m invested in the Atom Valley Innovation District, (AVID) a nationally significant advanced materials and manufacturing cluster. 

The investment will help to activate the innovation ecosystem needed to support the growth of materials-focused companies at Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale.  

Through the Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability (CEAMS) within the new Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Centre (SMMC), the programme will provide technical support, business services and access to specialist expertise to help companies scale up and adopt sustainable materials and advanced manufacturing technologies. 

By connecting businesses with national research centres, universities and industry, the programme will accelerate collaboration, unlock new supply chain opportunities and strengthen the region’s ability to attract and grow innovative businesses.  

The project is delivered in partnership with the Rochdale Development Agency, and the delivery consortium provides comprehensive access to the national advanced materials innovation ecosystem through the Henry Royce Institute, the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), and High Value Manufacturing Catapult centres: NCC and CPI. The University of Greater Manchester will support the delivery of industry-ready skills packages.   

Together, these activities will drive private sector investment in the Atom Valley Innovation District, generating skilled jobs, and build long-term economic resilience for the region. 

GROW AI 

The University will also play a key role in GROW AI (£12.8m). The project will be jointly led by the Centre for Enterprise at Manchester Metropolitan University and the Turing Innovation Catalyst at the University of Manchester.  

GROW AI will rapidly scale the responsible and secure adoption of AI across Greater Manchester, unlocking faster commercialisation of research and delivering inclusive, high-value economic growth. Involving collaboration with the University of Salford, Lancaster University and numerous private sector partners, the initiative will fuse startup and research commercialisation with AI adoption by SMEs across priority sectors, bringing together the public, private and academic sectors to focus on key challenges at pace.  

Utilising the networks, delivery expertise and academic excellence of the partner organisations, it builds on the region’s existing assets and is designed for rapid deployment. GROW AI develops the regional cluster at scale, supporting both new AI firms and existing businesses, so the wider economy can benefit from the AI opportunity. The project will also support the continued growth of the tech community at Sister, a new innovation district which is a joint venture between The University of Manchester and Bruntwood SciTech. 

The University's innovation arm, Unit M – a function designed to unleash the institution's full innovation potential – has supported the development of these two projects.   

Delivery partner on three projects 

The University of Manchester is also the delivery partner for indoor air quality and sustainability assessments in the Retrofit Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Innovation Centre (£8.56m) led by the University of Salford, the GM Wearables and Remote Monitoring Innovation Cluster (£5.5m) led by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, and the Greater Data Accelerator (£6.7m) led by Health Innovation Manchester. 

Professor Duncan Ivison, President & Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester said: “This shows what Greater Manchester can achieve through collaboration between universities, industry and the public sector. We’re very proud to play a central role in this, working alongside our partners to turn research into innovation that supports business growth, builds new ventures and strengthens the economy.  

"Our research, partnerships and innovation activity will increasingly create globally competitive clusters that attract investment, generate high-value jobs and position Greater Manchester as a leader in advanced materials, manufacturing, health innovation and AI. This is about connecting talent, ideas and industry - which ultimately means long-term, inclusive growth is felt across our communities.” 

Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Portfolio Lead for Economy, Business and Inclusive Growth, said: “Through this significant investment in five pioneering projects we will translate world-class research and innovation into new jobs and opportunities that benefit Greater Manchester’s businesses and residents. 

“By focusing on advanced materials and manufacturing, health innovation and AI, we are building on the strengths that already set our city region apart and creating the conditions for more businesses to innovate, scale and succeed here. This is the kind of investment and collaboration that helps us deliver long-term, inclusive growth, strengthening our economy and ensuring the benefits of innovation are felt right across Greater Manchester.” 

Andrew Hodgson, Chair of the Innovation Greater Manchester Board, said: “I am delighted that Greater Manchester has secured such a significant investment and is the first region to have all its projects approved.  

“This is testament to the maturity in Greater Manchester and the strong partnership that exists across the region. I would like to thank the partners for their support in the process. At IGM we look forward to continuing to collaborate with UKRI, supporting deployment of world-class innovations that impact lives throughout the region and beyond.” 

The list celebrates individuals who have had an immeasurable impact on the lives of people across the country, such as by creating innovative solutions or driving real change in public life.

We are also celebrating the members of our wider community who have been honoured. Read more here.

Professor David Knowles

Professor David Knowles FREng, CEO of the Henry Royce Institute, has been awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to industry and academia.

His work has focused primarily on the application of advanced materials and engineering research to address major industrial and national challenges across transport, energy, petrochemical and infrastructure sectors.

Responding to the award, Professor Knowles said: “I feel incredibly privileged and proud to have received this honour. It is a recognition not just of my own work, but of everything that the outstanding teams and institutes I’ve been fortunate to be part of have achieved together over many years.

“I would like to acknowledge the contribution of the many colleagues and collaborators I’ve worked alongside across academia, industry and government. Their talent, dedication and shared commitment to innovation have been central to everything we have accomplished.

“Naturally, I owe a great debt of gratitude to my family, past and present, whose encouragement and support have sustained me along the way.”

Professor Luke Georghiou

Professor Luke Georghiou, formerly Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at The University of Manchester, has been awarded an OBE for services to science and innovation. His current role is that of Professor of Science and Technology Policy and Management in the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research in the Alliance Manchester Business School. 

A longstanding figure in UK research and innovation policy, Professor Georghiou has played a leading role in shaping national and international approaches to science funding, collaboration and impact. Among his many contributions, he led Manchester’s successful bid to host the Euroscience Forum and secure its designation as European City of Science, and played a key role in the foundation of Northern Gritstone, a £380m venture capital company supporting university spinouts across the North.

Speaking on his award, Professor Georghiou said: "It has been a privilege to support and guide so many hugely talented people and to help develop Manchester’s outstanding innovation ecosystem.”

Professor Gareth Evans

Professor Gareth Evans, Emeritus Professor of Medical Genetics at The University of Manchester and Consultant in Medical Genetics at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, has been awarded an MBE for services to cancer genetics. His work has made a significant contribution to advancing understanding, diagnosis and care in inherited cancer, benefiting patients and families in the UK and beyond.

Professor Evans said: "I'm very honoured to be mentioned in the King's birthday honours. It's the culmination of thirty six years of work on inherited cancers and I'm extremely pleased. In particular to have my work on breast and ovarian cancer and the BRCA1/2 genes recognised and my setting of a national highly specialised service for patients with NF2 related schwannomatosis."

The birthday honours are awarded by the King following recommendations by the prime minister, senior government ministers, or members of the public.

The awards recognise active community champions, innovative social entrepreneurs, pioneering scientists, passionate health workers and dedicated volunteers who have made significant achievements in public life or committed themselves to serving and helping Britain.

The four-year programme brings together academic research and structured enterprise training, supporting postgraduate researchers to explore how their work can be developed into real-world applications.

It is designed to sit alongside traditional doctoral study, giving researchers the opportunity to develop their ideas beyond the lab. Alongside their research, participants will work with mentors to build entrepreneurial skills and gain practical experience, exploring areas such as technology readiness, market need and venture development.

The PhD remains rooted in original research, culminating in a doctoral thesis, but also includes a business plan as part of the final submission, supporting the aspiration that new commercial or social enterprises may be launched during or following the PhD.

Professor Aline Miller, Associate Vice-President for Enterprise at The University of Manchester, said: “This is something new for us, and it’s been really encouraging to see the range of ideas that have come forward.

“These projects show how much potential there is to take research in new directions and think about how it can be used beyond academia.

“We’re looking forward to working with the students who join the programme and supporting them as they develop both their research and the wider impact possibilities around it.”

Following an internal call for proposals from academic supervisors, 11 projects have been selected, spanning healthcare, artificial intelligence, sustainability and advanced materials. Five fully funded studentships will be available for 2026/27, with a further cohort planned for 2027/28.

• Genome safeguarding technologies for synthetic phage therapeutics against multidrug resistant bacterial infections – led by Professor Michael Brockhurst, this project develops safer engineered virus-based therapies for drug-resistant infections, helping make next-generation antimicrobial treatments more controllable and widely usable.

• Automated Blink-Dynamics Analytics: AI System Development and Translational Planning – led by Dr Claudia Lindner, this project develops an AI-based system for analysing eye movement to support earlier, non-invasive detection of diabetic neuropathy and enable scalable screening.

• Realtime 3D analytics for reducing laboratory animal suffering – led by Dr Riccardo Storchi, this project uses AI-powered video analytics to continuously monitor laboratory animals, enabling earlier detection of distress and improving welfare in real time.

• Autologous tumour-derived nanocarriers for precision drug delivery in Glioblastoma – led by Dr Christos Tapeinos, this project develops patient-specific nanocarriers to improve targeted drug delivery and treatment effectiveness in aggressive brain tumours.

• Infrared quantum cascade laser microscopy for invasive bladder cancer (IQ-Scan) – led by Professor Peter Gardner, this project develops advanced imaging technology to improve the accuracy and objectivity of bladder cancer diagnosis and staging from biopsy samples.

• Field-Deployable Genotyping for Animal Health and Biosurveillance – led by Dr Lu Shin Wong, this project develops rapid, portable diagnostic tools for detecting animal infections in the field, supporting faster responses to disease outbreaks and improving biosecurity.

• Biotech-enabled lures for sustainable food production – led by Dr Christopher Blanford, this project develops biological scent-based systems to manage insect behaviour in agriculture, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides.

• Developing and Commercialising a UAV Perching Technology for Extended Infrastructure Inspection – led by Professor Andrew Weightman, this project develops drone perching technology to extend inspection time and improve monitoring of critical infrastructure.

• Engineering and Translating Graphene-Based Vortex-Ring Aerogels for Industrial Water Purification and Carbon Capture – led by Professor Aravind Vijayaraghavan, this project develops scalable graphene-based materials to remove pollutants from water and improve carbon capture efficiency.

• AIDE: Agentic Intelligence for Decision-making in Investment and Enterprise – led by Professor Richard Allmendinger, this project develops AI systems to support complex investment and innovation decision-making by integrating financial, company and market data into a unified workflow.

• Injectable radiopaque self-assembling hydrogels for biomedical applications – led by Dr James Warren, this project develops injectable biomaterials to support earlier intervention and improved outcomes in conditions such as osteoarthritis.

The programme is a joint initiative between the research and innovation teams within the University, working in partnership with the Doctoral Academies, the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre and the Innovation Factory. Doctoral researchers will be registered within, and supported by, their relevant Faculty Doctoral Academy, ensuring strong academic oversight and integration within existing doctoral structure.  

To find out more about the programme, the projects on offer and see how to apply visit: https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/funding/phd-by-enterprise/

The awards support entrepreneurs with solutions to the world’s most pressing issues. Ideas with Impact is open to applications from innovators across all disciplines – from engineering to health, and policy to creative. 

Through generous donor support there is a total of £300,000 in prize funding available, and individual awards of £100,000, £75,000 and £50,000 will be given to winners, who will also receive support from experienced mentors to build their networks and accelerate impact. 

This year’s competition follows the success of 2025’s winning ventures that spanned health and life sciences, medical diagnostics, industrial biotechnology, and agri‑tech, reflecting the breadth of Manchester’s research strengths and its focus on real‑world impact. From novel treatments for endometriosis and rapid, field‑based heart attack diagnostics, to sustainable metal extraction technologies and early warning systems for crop disease, the winners demonstrated how academic insight can be translated into solutions addressing major societal, environmental and economic challenges.  

The team behind LanthaGen Bio, who received £75,000 in 2025, highlighted their progress.

Application timeline 

The awards are run in partnership with the University of Manchester Innovation Factory, the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre and Unit M. The window for applications is open now until 22 May 2026. Any students, colleagues or alumni (within three years) from across the University are welcome to apply if they are working on solutions to global challenges, and must be at an early stage in their entrepreneurial journey. 

To find out more and apply, visit the Ideas with Impact Awards website. 

• 22^nd April – applications open
• 22^nd May – applications close
• 2^nd July – final pitching competition and Ideas with Impact Awards event 

Philanthropic support  

Innovation is at the heart of the University’s Challenge Accepted campaign, fuelling our ambition to become Europe’s most inclusive and impactful innovation network, and helping deliver progress that changes lives.  

Are you interested in supporting brilliant future founders and ensuring entrepreneurship for all? We’d love to explore opportunities with you.  

Contact Olympia Kennard to begin a conversation: Olympia.Kennard@manchester.ac.uk.  

Our innovation ecosystem  

• Read more about Unit M here: The University of Manchester's Innovation Unit
• Read more about the Innovation Factory here: The University of Manchester Innovation Factory
• Read more about the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre here: Masood Entrepreneurship Centre | The University of Manchester  

Delivered by Unit M and enabled by GMCA Investment Zone funding, the accelerator will provide each venture with expert commercialisation support, access to mentors, investor readiness training, lab and workspace access, up to £25,000 in equity-free funding, and the opportunity to showcase to investors and strategic partners at a demo day.

The programme supports the University’s vision to become Europe’s most inclusive and impactful innovation ecosystem. The deep tech accelerator is designed to drive the journey from research to real-world impact, build a strong innovation network, and streamline collaboration, turning ideas into outcomes that benefit society. 

The companies span many different fields, including advanced materials, biotech, space, AI and climate innovation. They include:

• SporeSense – An early disease detection device enabling farmers to identify crop infections before visible symptoms emerge, enabling the reduction, and targeted use, of fungicides. This is being developed by a collaboration of companies and agri-tech specialists, spearheaded by University of Manchester researchers and with commercial development support from the University’s Innovation Factory.

• Imprinted Diagnostics – Imprinted Diagnostics uses a novel form of detection (molecularly imprinted polymers) and a patented detection platform. Commercialisation is being supported by The University of Manchester’s Innovation Factory and is expected to lead to the first product; a rapid, portable, blood test that can diagnose heart attacks on the spot.

• NX Health Limited – The world’s first non-invasive wireless neurostimulation device, a medical technology that delivers targeted, low-voltage electrical currents to nerves or specific brain areas, specifically designed to help individuals with autism spectrum disorder to manage daily challenges that impact their quality of life, such as sensory sensitivities, anxiety and sleep disturbances.

• WarmTronics Ltd – Energy-efficient heaters, manufactured in the UK, delivering more than 85% greater efficiency than electric alternatives. WarmTronics actively works in partnership with The University of Manchester.

• Graphene Thermal – Modular floor heating panels that reach operating temperature in under one minute. Using self-regulating graphene nano-composite heating elements, the system delivers instant, on-demand heating, cutting energy use and installation costs versus underfloor heating.

• CASA Space Technologies – This spinout from The University of Manchester Innovation Factory is using advanced materials engineering to increase the length of satellite operations in very low Earth orbit by mitigating atmospheric drag and atomic oxygen erosion. The technology unlocks longer satellite lifetimes, allows for lower orbits, higher-performance Earth observation and better in-orbit communications services.

   

• Fava Health – Digital solutions that translate complex genomic data into practical guidance for clinicians. The technology integrates these insights directly into clinical systems, supporting safer, more personalised treatment choices.

• O-Innovations – A 3D-omnidirectional wind turbine designed for clean, efficient energy generation in urban settings. This technology unlocks high‑energy wind zones created around buildings, which is up to 27 times stronger, offering major potential for decentralised, resilient urban power.

• Sineco – Real-time data aggregation technology that cleans and integrates biometric signals from wearable devices, transforming noisy, fragmented data into reliable physiological insights. This enables accurate, responsive AI applications that enhance performance, wellbeing, and engagement across fitness, healthcare, and digital environments.

• GA Innovations – A wireless wearable system featuring sensorised insoles and thigh bands that provide real-time feedback to lower-limb amputees. The device is non-invasive, compatible with all prostheses, and delivers multi-point sensory stimulation mapped to different areas of the foot, creating a more intuitive gait experience. Designed for independent use without clinical assistance, it adapts to each user’s needs to support personalised rehabilitation and improved mobility.

Professor Aline Miller, Associate Vice-President for Enterprise and Chief Scientific Officer at Unit M said: “We’re delighted to announce the first cohort of the Unit M deep tech accelerator. This group reflects the incredible depth of innovation across The University of Manchester and the wider Greater Manchester ecosystem, bringing together ambitious technical founders with ideas that have the potential to deliver real-world impact. The team are excited to work with this cohort as they take their next steps on their commercialisation journey.”

The accelerator is open to technical founders and researchers who have moved past early research or initial concept development and already on a path toward turning their science and technology into investment-ready deep tech startups. The programme runs from April – June. This is a multi-year project funded by the GMCA and announcements on future cohorts will be made in the coming months.

Potential investors will have the chance to hear about each of the chosen ventures at a demo day in June and can register to become a mentor.

• Register as a mentor
• Register for our demo day on 24 June
• Sign up to Unit M mailing list

The event, Powering Research Commercialisation Across the North, hosted by the Innovate UK ICURe in partnership with The University of Manchester and NxNW Partners, marked a significant moment for the UK’s innovation ecosystem. It brought together key stakeholders to launch the new Innovate UK ICURe strategy, which sets out a renewed focus on strengthening research commercialisation across the UK, aligning with the UK Government’s priority industrial sectors, supported by a coordinated regional delivery.

Innovate UK’s Innovation-to-Commercialisation of University Research (ICURe) programme is the UK’s flagship early-stage research pre-accelerator. Through closer collaboration between regional partners, ICURe aims to support a stronger pipeline of investment-ready opportunities and deepen connections between research, industry and investors.

The programme will be delivered through the North by Northwest (NxNW) consortium – a partnership of universities across the North of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The University of Manchester will lead the NxNW consortium through Unit M, the University’s gateway to innovation.

Professor Aline Miller, University of Manchester and Unit M, said: “NxNW Partners, University of Manchester and Unit M all share a strategic vision; to strengthen the innovation ecosystem across the northern belt of the UK. We see ICURe as central to our plan and an enabler of commercialisation of cutting-edge research across the priority sectors of the UK Industrial Strategy.

“It was clear from the event that the UK’s ability to scale research-driven innovation depends on stronger connections between regions, partners and investors. We’re working in collaboration with our regional partners to build the conditions for research-led companies to start, stay, grow and scale.”

During the event, spin-out showcases and networking sessions provided a platform for emerging ventures to engage directly with investors and partners, reinforcing the strength of the pipeline being developed through ICURe.

Partners attending the launch included representatives from UKRI, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Liverpool City Region (LCR), Northern Gritstone, Invest Northern Ireland, Scottish Enterprise, and university partners from across the NxNW consortium.

Since its launch in 2014, Innovate UK ICURe has played a pivotal role in supporting researchers to translate early-stage technologies into commercial opportunities. The programme has supported the creation of 388 spin-outs, helped ventures raise £1.61 billion in additional investment, and contributed to the creation of 2,495 jobs. Today, 32% of ICURe teams are female-led, reflecting a continued commitment to broadening participation in innovation.

By combining funding, customer discovery and commercial expertise, ICURe acts as a critical pipeline for research-driven innovation and a key enabler of regional innovation ecosystems.

Professor Aline Miller added: “The ICURe NxNW event underscored the growing strength of the North as a connected and collaborative innovation ecosystem. With strengthened regional leadership, aligned national delivery and a clear focus on supporting ventures from early-stage research through to scale, ICURe is playing a central role in shaping the future of UK research commercialisation.

“As the programme enters this next phase, its continued success will depend on deepening partnerships, strengthening investment pathways and ensuring that the UK’s most promising technologies are supported to reach their full potential.

“Together, we’re building a more connected, impactful future for UK research.”

Geeta Nathan, Deputy Director of Innovation Ecosystems at Innovate UK, said: “Bringing together the ICURe and NxNW community in Manchester highlighted both the strength of the UK’s research base and the scale of opportunity ahead. Our focus is on backing bold ideas aligned to the UK’s priority industrial sectors (IS-6), with real commercial potential, supporting strong teams and creating clearer pathways from research into market.

"The launch of the next phase of Innovate UK ICURe, alongside initiatives such as the UKRI Venture Builder pilot, reflects our commitment to strengthening those pathways and helping early-stage ventures build momentum. By working closely with our delivery partners and regional ecosystems, we are creating the conditions for more research-driven businesses to start, grow and scale across the UK.”

Professors Grieve and Yin were honoured for their research in developing a new device to detect crop viruses, alongside peers from Rothamsted Research in the UK, and Rutgers and North Carolina State University in the US.

The new tool can detect early-stage viral infections in crops more rapidly and in a less expensive way than traditional methods of genetic testing, with the project addressing Cassava Mosaic and Brown Streak diseases in particular, which threaten a key carbohydrate crop found in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America: Cassava.

As Cassava is increasingly used as a replacement for wheat flour in the US and Europe, the new technology can increase our ability to safeguard our food security, by identifying and containing diseases before they spread and devastate crops.

Vice-President for Research, Colette Fagan, commented, “I was delighted to attend this UKRI award event at the British Embassy, Washington, as part of a Russell Group delegation visit to meet with USA universities and research funders. Professors Grieve and Yin's team was one of the small number of teams to be awarded this new prize, and I was proud to see their work at our University recognised and celebrated by the Washington audience.”

The PUB awards are centred around research collaboration between the UK and US, and celebrate the impact of bringing together researchers and scientists on both sides of the Atlantic to address global challenges through innovation partnerships.

In the case of this revolutionary new tool, it was The University of Manchester and the Rothamsted Research facility’s sensor engineering and machine learning expertise who provided the UK’s share of research impact, which combined with the US institutions’ crop virology capabilities, to bring about this step towards a more secure global food supply.

Prof Grieve commented, “Receiving the US-UK reward brought home to me the impact that working with complimentary teams across the globe, and across engineering and the life-sciences, can have – with the crop viruses that we are working on threatening the main carbohydrate source for 800 million people in Africa and Latin-America.”

Not only have our researchers contributed to creating a more resilient future for worldwide food system - but their device will also be supporting local livelihoods and strengthening rural economies, where the effects of crop loss are felt most keenly in developing areas of the world.

Dr Grieve and Prof Yin were handed their awards by HM Ambassador to the US, Sir Christian Turner, and UKRI’s International Director, Frances Wood, and were one of seven collaborations recognised, from cancer research to particle physics.

Prof Yin, said of the occasion, “It was a great honour and encouragement for our work, and shows the importance of transatlantic collaborations, as well as the positive impact that AI and advanced sensing can make in tackling the challenges facing the world in terms of food, energy and sustainability. While in this project we target cassava brown steak virus, the device, once verified in field tests in Tanzania over next few months, could be extended to other produces.”

This work was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and US National Science Foundation through the Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease Programme.

The agenda included a stakeholder meeting at Christie’s Bistro on The University of Manchester’s campus on Wednesday 4 February, and a creative roundtable in MediaCity on Thursday 5 February, hosted by Professor of Poetry, John McAuliffe, on the role of the creative economy in innovation. 

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) also hosted a meeting to showcase Manchester’s transport network, providing the chance to share learnings between the two cities, before the first partnership advisory board meeting was held at the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC). 

The events were attended by both the mayors of Greater Manchester and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough respectively, Andy Burnham and Paul Bristow, and the Vice-Chancellors of the Universities of Manchester and Cambridge, Professor Duncan Ivison and Professor Deborah Prentice. Attendees also included the leaders of both city councils, Shaun Grady, UK Chair of AstraZeneca, and industry leaders from both regions.  

The visit to Manchester follows on from the launch of the partnership and the initial stakeholder visit to Cambridge last year, after £4.8 million in funding was awarded by Research England for the pioneering city-to-city collaboration.  

In October, the partnership announced its advisory board during the 2025 Innovate Cambridge Summit which brings together leaders from academia, industry and policy to guide the collaboration between the two cities. 

The partnership is led by the universities of Cambridge and Manchester and their innovation ecosystem organisations Unit M and Innovate Cambridge. The ambitious collaboration was launched to boost UK economic growth and advance inclusive innovation, while supporting the delivery of industrial strategy and local growth plans. 

The partnership is connected at every level: University to University, innovation ecosystem to ecosystem, council to council, Combined Authority to Combined Authority and business to business. This multi-layered connectivity allows ideas, talent, investment and opportunity to flow between places and organisations.   

Find out more about the partnership and get involved – https://www.cambridge-manchester.com/  

The Research England funding has been allocated for use in three key areas: ecosystem activation and integration; growing investment; and testing and learning. 

● Ecosystem activation and integration: It will strengthen relations within and between the innovation ecosystems of the two cities, to create a vibrant and ambitious cross-city innovation network. This aims to create progressive new approach inclusive growth. 

● Growing investment: It will harness the combined strengths of both universities and partner cities to support start-ups and scale-ups to secure funding and grow, attract innovation-intensive FDI to the UK, and stimulate investment into R&D. 

● Testing and learning: It will pilot new approaches and share best practice for delivering ecosystem collaboration and inclusive growth. This will allow other cities, the wider higher education sector community, and local and national governments in the UK and internationally to learn from the partnership. 

The visit formed a key component of the WRC 2026 programme, an initiative established by SWA to strengthen partnerships with leading international universities and to accelerate innovation in water technologies. During the visit, His Excellency and the SWA delegation toured the NGI and GEIC facilities, engaging directly with researchers, engineers, and University of Manchester (UoM) spinouts and startups including Watercycle Technologies, Molymem, and Hollowgraf, all of which are developing advanced materials and water-related technologies.

His Excellency was formally welcomed to the University by Professor Stephen Flint, Associate Vice-President, who hosted a formal meeting to discuss strategic collaboration priorities and opportunities for deeper engagement between SWA and The University of Manchester.

In his opening address at WRC 2026, His Excellency Eng. Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim stated: “We rely on science, innovation and technology as the catalyst for our future. Science alone will not be enough to serve the globe. We share a responsibility to connect scientific progress with applied knowledge, applied technology and strong systems that improve lives. Water is life, and water is economy.”

At NGI, discussions focused on fundamental and translational research in advanced materials for water applications. The SWA delegation expressed strong interest in developing structured training and capacity-building programmes, particularly joint PhD training and researcher development initiatives, to help nurture the next generation of scientists and engineers working at the intersection of advanced materials and water technologies.

At GEIC, discussions focused on applied research and the translation of validated ideas towards scalable solutions addressing real-world water and water-infrastructure challenges. The SWA team highlighted opportunities to collaborate on near-to-market technologies, pilot-scale demonstrations, and industry-facing innovation programmes capable of delivering tangible impact.

Prof Rahul R. Nair, Chair of WRC 2026 and Professor of Materials Physics at The University of Manchester, said:

“We were pleased to welcome His Excellency and the Saudi Water Authority delegation to Manchester. The visit reflects a strong alignment between our research capabilities and SWA’s strategic priorities, and we look forward to establishing impactful collaborations in advanced materials and water technologies.”

The delegation also expressed interest in partnering with the Rabigh Water Oasis facilities as a platform for testing, validation, and demonstration of innovative technologies emerging from NGI, GEIC, and UoM spinouts. Such a partnership would support the translation of UK-developed innovations into operational environments and help accelerate pathways to deployment at scale.

The visit further enabled SWA leadership to engage with Watercycle Technologies, Molymem, and Hollowgraf, showcasing innovation across membranes, sensing, advanced materials, and circular water technologies. This interaction reinforced a shared ambition to translate research excellence into deployable solutions for global water challenges. As part of the visit, SWA also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hollowgraf to advance future collaboration in water technologies.

The Water Research Community Meeting 2026 brought together over 200 participants, including senior leaders, policymakers, researchers, and innovators from Saudi Arabia, the UK, and other countries, to align strategic priorities and explore new partnership pathways across sustainability, the circular economy, clean and renewable energy, and process innovation.

This high-level visit marks an important step towards strengthening long-term collaboration between SWA and The University of Manchester, combining the UK’s leadership in advanced materials and innovation infrastructure with Saudi Arabia’s capabilities, investment, and testbed facilities in water technologies.

Over the past two years, HydroGraph and the GEIC have worked side by side to translate cutting-edge research into real-world impact. Together, they have built an extensive library of case studies showing how HydroGraph’s pristine graphene improves performance in diverse applications. Their joint efforts have also generated a commercial pipeline of more than 75 projects commercialising graphene enhanced solutions across sectors such as medical devices, composites and coatings. These successes have been matched by advances in manufacturing: HydroGraph has scaled production from pilot quantities to about one ton per month and plans to scale output to full commercial scale as additional reactors and a new Texas facility come on stream.

The move to Tier 1 status opens a new chapter for the partnership. HydroGraph will establish a dedicated laboratory within the GEIC and gain broader access to the centre’s world-class facilities and technical expertise. This will allow more joint projects to move swiftly from laboratory validation to industrial trials, shorten time to market, and integrate Manchester’s capabilities with HydroGraph’s expanding production footprint. It will also support deeper collaboration with strategic partners such as the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL), building on initial engagements in Manchester to explore new opportunities in North America.

James Baker, CEO of Graphene@Manchester, welcomed the development. “We are thrilled that through our partnership with HydroGraph we are growing our activities in the United States alongside the ARL. From an initial engagement here in Manchester we are now seeing real opportunities and traction in the U.S. market. This demonstrates the power of the GEIC to leverage collaboration across our Tier 1 and Tier 2 partners. With this Tier 1 extension HydroGraph will be able to tap into our full range of capabilities – from composites and energy storage to printing and coatings – while enjoying a dedicated laboratory in the GEIC and access to the broader resources of the University of Manchester.”

Kjirstin Breure, Chief Executive Officer of HydroGraph, added: “Over the past two years as a Tier 2 member, our collaboration with the GEIC has turned promising ideas into real world applications and industrial trials. Elevating to Tier 1 is the natural next step. It provides deeper access to facilities and expertise, speeds up our innovation cycles, and supports closer collaboration with partners such as ARL. We are excited about what this upgrade will enable for HydroGraph, for Manchester and for our customers.”

By strengthening their partnership, HydroGraph and the GEIC are reaffirming Manchester’s position at the forefront of graphene innovation. Together they will continue to pioneer sustainable, high-performance graphene applications that deliver benefits across industry and society.

The GEIC operates a partnership model, offering a variety of engagement options tailored to the scope, scale, duration and complexity of development projects. Visit here for more information and to get in touch.

Driven by the University’s Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange (BEKE) team, The University of Manchester Innovation Factory, the Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) and the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, the partnership will focus on creating opportunities for collaboration that drive innovation.

The partnership aims to create tangible outcomes to benefit students, staff, businesses and the wider community, across the North West region and beyond.

Students will benefit from real-world learning experiences embedded within their academic programmes, supported by opportunities for internships, placements, and professional mentoring. The partnership also creates scope for a wide range of innovative activities, including enterprise competitions, advanced skills development, and initiatives to nurture entrepreneurial ventures and start-ups.

For staff and researchers, the partnership provides a platform for meaningful engagement with industry, enabling knowledge exchange and joint projects that address emerging challenges and drive innovation.

Dr Cat Headley, CEO of The University of Manchester Innovation Factory, commented: “The signing of this MoU with NatWest is a really positive step in building a partnership that has the potential to span across many areas of innovation in the University, in a way that will benefit researchers, students and entrepreneurs across our community.”

The signing event for the MoU was held at The University of Manchester and it was signed by Professor Kenneth McPhail, Head of School at AMBS and Stephen Sankson, Regional Director at NatWest, on NatWest’s behalf.

Mr Sankson said of the partnership: “We are delighted to sign this agreement with The University of Manchester. Whether focussing on entrepreneurship with students, supporting spin outs, or helping early-stage ventures to flourish, this partnership will not only provide opportunities to work on our shared goal of supporting growth, but will also be a catalyst for even greater collaboration and innovation across the City Region and beyond.”

The MoU establishes a three-year framework for collaboration, with regular reviews to ensure continued progress and impact. A dedicated Steering Committee will guide the partnership, focusing on broad strategic priorities that strengthen innovation, enhance the student experience, and create opportunities for knowledge exchange and enterprise across the University and beyond.

The MoU will merge the University’s world-class academic expertise and NatWest’s leadership in the financial sector, with the aim of shaping a future of inclusive, sustainable growth.

The University of Manchester and the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council (ISAC) have established a groundbreaking strategic partnership. The first of its kind, this partnership will give the ISAC access to the University’s research and expertise to drive forward recommendations for the Government’s Industrial Strategy. 

The Industrial Strategy Advisory Council, reporting to the Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury, has been tasked with bringing together views from business, academia and industry to further the Government’s mission to drive economic growth across the country.  

Greater Manchester has been leading the way for many years, and the launch of the partnership coincides with the announcement that the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council (ISAC) will be headquartered in Manchester, giving the Council direct access to world class universities, innovative businesses and pro-growth institutions.

The University’s gateway for innovation, Unit M will work closely with the ISAC, an independent body responsible for advising Government on the Industrial Strategy, to bring the partnership vision to life and support its commitment to oversee effective implementation of the Industrial Strategy.  

The Council’s presence in Manchester will also ensure that their work benefits from real insight into how to drive growth at a local level reflecting the insights of local leaders, businesses and institutions.

The partnership will support the Council’s monitoring of the growth-driving sectors of the Government’s Industrial Strategy to establish evidence and data to support a shared understanding of how they are developing. Though it will have a national focus, it will also leverage an in-depth knowledge of Greater Manchester to give a regional perspective to the Industrial Strategy.

Dame Clare Barclay DBE, Chair of the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council (ISAC), said: “I am delighted to launch our new partnership with the University of Manchester. This partnership demonstrates the Council’s commitment to working collaboratively with world class institutions such as the University of Manchester to share knowledge and research in support of our shared objectives. 

"This partnership will strengthen the Council’s ability to advise Government by enhancing our collaboration with the local innovative institutions and businesses that are so crucial to driving economic growth in the UK.”

Minister for the Industrial Strategy, Blair McDougall MP said: "Our modern Industrial Strategy is kickstarting an era of economic prosperity, and this landmark partnership will help provide expert advice as we continue to effectively deliver our Strategy over the next decade.

"By bringing academia and industry together, this partnership will unlock the local innovation we need to drive economic growth into Greater Manchester and every part of the country."

The KTP2025 Conference and Awards were held in Manchester, the birthplace of KTP, from 28 to 30 October and hosted by The University of Manchester, the University of Salford, Manchester Metropolitan University and Innovate UK.

In addition to the annual awards, there was a special ceremony to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of KTP, the KTP Golden Awards, which honoured the most exceptional people, projects and partnerships of the last five decades. Over 450 representatives from universities, industry, and Innovate UK gathered to celebrate and discuss the future of collaborative innovation.

Winning the ‘Driving Innovation for the Future’ category within the KTP Golden Awards was the University’s partnership with Arup, which helped to tackle strategic change in the built environment sector. Led by Professors Francoise Tisseur and Stefan Güttel from the Department of Mathematics, the project explored how Arup could radically innovate the simulation of buildings in an earthquake, to enable safer and more sustainable structural building in the future.

Since their launch in 1975, the UK Government has funded over 14,000 groundbreaking KTPs, uniting top businesses with researchers and graduates to solve real-world challenges, adding billions to the UK economy.

From 2010 to 2020 alone, Innovate UK invested £200m in 2,000 projects, adding £2.3bn to the UK economy. 

Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, Lord Vallance, said: “Knowledge Transfer Partnerships have long supported collaboration between our renowned universities, UK innovators and thriving businesses – from helping household brands to produce their goods more efficiently through to unleashing new discoveries that improve lives. They also demonstrate the benefit of public investment, with ambitious, Innovate-UK-backed projects across the country having added billions of pounds to our economy in the previous decade alone. I look forward to these partnerships supporting the next generation of cutting-edge innovations.”

Richard Lamb, KTP Programme Manager at Innovate UK, said: “Celebrating 50 years of the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships programme offers a valuable opportunity to recognise its enduring impact on UK innovation and economic resilience.

“By bridging academia and industry, KTP has extended vital opportunities to businesses and academic partners across the UK, reaching beyond London and the Southeast to drive innovation in fields ranging from STEM to the creative industries and pioneering areas like AI and quantum technology. This collaborative model has not only boosted productivity and growth but has empowered organisations of all sizes to innovate and thrive on a local and national scale. This 50th anniversary is the perfect occasion to reflect on the impressive impact achieved through the programme and its lasting legacy.”

KTPs at The University of Manchester are supported by the Knowledge Exchange Partnerships team within Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange. For a researcher or an external organisation looking to collaborate, the team can help explore how KTPs can bring innovation ideas to life — get in touch via kepartnerships@manchester.ac.uk to find out more.

Published in 1950 during Turing’s time as an academic at The University of Manchester, the paper was one of the first on artificial intelligence. It was in this paper that he established the Turing Test, also known as the Imitation Game, posing the question that would shape the modern world: “Can machines think?” 

Today, more than 1,600 Manchester researchers are designing and applying AI to tackle global challenges, transform industries, enhance public services, and improve lives. From advancing breast cancer treatment and improving menopause care to transforming crop productivity in Ghana and tackling online misogyny, Manchester researchers are using AI to deliver positive change for society and the environment. 

To enable this, the University has invested in a world-leading research environment, creating an AI research ecosystem that supports research excellence and accelerates the journey to real-world impact. Capabilities span from the Centre for AI Fundamentals, driving the breakthroughs of tomorrow, to two dedicated units fuelling innovation - the Turing Innovation Catalyst Manchester, part of Unit M, The University of Manchester's innovation unit, which connect partners to the University’s world-famous talent, ideas and resources. 

Professor Jay adds: “We believe AI should deliver real benefits to business, public services and society. That’s why we’re continually investing in the people, partnerships and platforms that turn bold ideas into transformative outcomes. 

“In every thriving AI ecosystem, there’s a university at its heart. We’re proud to shape the future of AI – for Manchester, the UK and the world.” 

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His appointment brings extensive expertise in musculoskeletal health, clinical innovation and higher education leadership to the University’s technology transfer company, which is responsible for transforming pioneering research into commercial opportunities.

Professor Blom is Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at The University of Manchester. He is ranked among the world’s top ten experts in arthroplasty research and has played a central role in developing and analysing the National Joint Registry, the largest database of its kind globally. 

A Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, an NIHR Senior Investigator and a past President of the European Orthopaedic Research Society, he has advised governments and professional bodies internationally and continues to lead influential research shaping clinical practice and health policy.

The University of Manchester Innovation Factory leads the commercialisation of the University’s research, supporting academics to protect intellectual property, create spinout companies and establish licensing partnerships. 

Over the past decade, the Innovation Factory has formed more than 120 spinout companies, raised over £100 million in external investment and created more than 1,200 high-value jobs, making it one of the UK’s most active university technology transfer organisations.

Professor Blom commented: “It is a privilege to join the Board of the Innovation Factory. The University of Manchester has a world-class research base, and the Innovation Factory plays a vital role in turning discovery into innovation. I look forward to supporting the next generation of researchers and entrepreneurs as they take their ideas forward to create impact through partnerships, products and spinouts.”

Professor Blom’s appointment underlines the Innovation Factory’s commitment to strong leadership, strategic growth and excellence in research translation, building on Manchester’s reputation as one of the UK’s leading centres for innovation and commercialisation.

John will sit on the University Executive with responsibility for driving The University of Manchester’s strategic agenda across civic engagement and innovation, working in partnership with local, regional and national stakeholders, and across the full breadth of our university community.

John brings extensive experience in strategic leadership across higher education, national and local government, and industry. In his current role as Associate Vice President for Major Special Projects at The University of Manchester, he has played lead roles in delivering key initiatives, including the establishment of the UK’s Productivity Institute at the Alliance Manchester Business School, the relocation of the UK Biobank to the Oxford Road Corridor, and the creation of the Turing Innovation Catalyst. He was the University’s lead in establishing Sister, the 20-year project to build a new innovation district on the former North Campus.

In 2024, he co-led the University’s Regional Innovation Review and played a pivotal role in the creation of Unit M, the University’s new dedicated innovation arm launched to unlock the University’s full potential as the region’s largest innovation asset and drive inclusive growth regionally and nationally. Recently he has also been instrumental in developing our burgeoning relationship with Cambridge which is pioneering a new model of place-to-place collaboration to drive inclusive economic growth for the UK.

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, said: “We want to be one of the leading 21st Century civic universities in the world. A significant part of that vision is to be a powerhouse for innovation and strategic partnerships in our city region, the UK and globally.

“John brings a strong track record of civic engagement and developing innovative programs and policies that have contributed to creating opportunities for our region and beyond. To further this ambition, it is vital that we work with our partners and communities to meet the challenges that they face and I’m excited that John is set to play a leading part in this.”

Professor John Holden, Vice-President for Civic Engagement and Innovation, said: “I am delighted to have been appointed Vice-President for Civic Engagement and Innovation. With these two critical agendas set to be at the heart of our new 10-year strategy launching in October, this is a pivotal moment for the University and an exciting time to take on a role focused on driving its delivery.

“Our University has a proud tradition of working in partnership with our city and region, recognising that our success and the success of our region are inextricably linked. By strengthening our collaborations with industry, civic partners, and communities we can accelerate research into real-world impact, help our students unlock their full potential, and develop solutions to the major challenges that face our region and the world.

“As one of the North of England’s most significant innovation assets, the University has the scale, capabilities, and global reach to play a central role in driving inclusive economic growth and prosperity not just for our region but for the whole of the UK.

“I’m looking forward to working with our students, staff, alumni and partners to improve lives and create opportunities locally, nationally and globally — and I look forward to engaging with current and future collaborators about how we can make this happen together.”

Before joining the University in 2020, John spent 15 years in senior strategy and policy roles in Greater Manchester. He was instrumental in shaping the city region’s Mayoral Combined Authority, including the landmark 2014 ‘Devo Manc’ devolution deal and subsequent agreements that transferred significant powers and funding from the UK government to the city region. As head of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Strategy and Research team, he worked with Mayor Andy Burnham, Sir Richard Leese, the late Sir Howard Bernstein and other regional leaders to set and deliver economic growth and public service reform policy.

He has advised national and international organisations on regional policy, including the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. John is also a Board member of the Rochdale Development Agency, a North West Council Member of the Confederation of British Industry, a member of the Oxford Road Corridor Executive, and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA).

John will begin in his new role from 1st October 2025.

The company is a spinout from the University of Manchester, founded by Dr Tim Echermeyer, based at the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC), and joined by Dr Steve Turley as executive-Chair.

PhovIR uses its breakthrough Near Infra-Red (NIR) optical sensor technology to identify the ‘optical fingerprint’ of constituents of solids, liquids and gases, in a portable device. Human eyes perceive a very narrow band of the optical spectrum, predominantly colours, yet there is much more information about materials and substances contained in longer wavelengths.

This innovation is a ‘platform technology’ which has far-reaching applications for human health, such as the detection of drink spiking and other contaminants to industrial safety, pollution monitoring and agricultural functions.

Although other NIR sensor devices exist, they are bulky, often difficult to integrate into portable devices and expensive to manufacture. The breakthrough achieved by PhovIR allows this to be manufactured on a silicon chip enabling a small, light and cost-effective solution that has the potential to be incorporated into a smart watch or phone.

PhovIR has developed a capability based on MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) technology to create a flexible, portable, low-cost solution that captures a broader optical range. Its software is fully configurable, doing the job of multiple sensors, and can be manufactured at scale.

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor at The University of Manchester said: “PhovIR is a fantastic example of the kind of innovation that defines The University of Manchester – world-class research brought to life through collaboration, with the potential to change lives.

“It’s exciting to see this deeptech breakthrough moving towards real-world application, supported by the expertise of our Innovation Factory and partners like Northern Gritstone. My congratulations to the team behind PhovIR, this is exactly the kind of impact we want to see more of across our University and our region.”

PhovIR is chaired by Dr Steve Turley, who has over 25 years’ experience dedicated to scaling complex technologies into high growth businesses, including as Chair of Effect Photonics and ex-CEO of Perpetuum.

With the funding, PhovIR plans to bring its first commercial product to market, grow its team, and continue delivering on its vision for making the invisible visible to improve human and planetary health.

PhovIR recently completed Northern Gritstone’s pre-seed program, NG Studios, which has supported PhovIR to refine its commercial strategy as a customer-led organisation ready for growth and successful fundraising.

Active since May 2022, Northern Gritstone has already made 37 investments in early-stage businesses in the North of England, expanded its investment team and built NG Innovation Services, its venture building ‘toolkit’ offering, inter alia: talent management; growth advice; business services; and the accelerator program, NG Studios.

Duncan Johnson, CEO of Northern Gritstone, said: “PhovIR is a Northern Gritstone NG Studios graduate. The University of Manchester is home to innovation in materials science including graphene. Northern Gritstone is delighted to back Dr Tim Echtermeyer and Dr Steve Turley – graduates of our NG Studios venture building program - knowing that PhovIR’s technology has the potential to create a global company.”

Dr Tim Echtermeyer, CTO of PhovIR, said: “I am exhilarated to enter the next part of PhovIR’s journey and turn our vision into reality. I am grateful to the many people contributing and making this happen; particularly Steve, and William Wren and Minh Vu from the Engineering team, who have worked relentlessly.

Dr Steve Turley, Chair of PhovIR said: “I am very excited to be working with PhovIR not only because of the immense potential that the technology has but also the great team in Manchester led by Tim. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate that the UK can take excellent innovative technology and turn it into a global success story”

John Williams, General Partner of SCVC said: “PhovIR represents the future of deep tech: advanced hardware, unlocked by AI. It’s the kind of multi-tech breakthrough that creates entirely new categories—and the kind SCVC is here to back.”

Following pitches from 14 finalists, the awards brought together innovators, investors, students and supporters to kickstart new innovations with the potential to create significant social and economic impact in the UK and beyond.  

A remarkable 146 students, researchers, academics and recent graduates applied for the prestigious awards. Following a rigorous selection process, six entrepreneurial founders were chosen to receive funding to accelerate their ventures.  

The Ideas with Impact prizes will provide the winners with awards of £100,000, £75,000, and £20,000 to support the critical early stage of their innovation journeys. On the evening, £10,000 was also awarded to the winner of a special 60 second Elevator Pitch Prize, as chosen by the audience. 

The Ideas With Impact 2025 Award winners 

Winner of £100,000:  

• Kay Marshall, Molla Pharm: a novel endometriosis treatment, preventing cells from growing and returning after routine surgery for endometriosis.  

Winners of £75,000:  

• Alexander Stokes, Imprinted Diagnostics: an in-field heart attack diagnostics device, offering rapid lab-quality results from a drop of a blood and without refrigeration.  
• Dan Healy, LanthaGen Bio: engineered bacteria for earth metal extraction from complex mixtures such as mining waste or electronics recycling streams. 

Winners of £20,000 

• Niaz Rayan, SporeSense: an AgriTech device that helps farmers spot invisible disease threats before they can damage crops.  
• Thanasis Stergiuo, HalioGen Power: next generation flow battery, using recyclable materials and avoiding toxic or flammable components.   

Winner of £10,000 Elevator Pitch Prize 

• Parsa Pirhady, Simplex Molecular Ltd: the first at-home DNA test for sexually transmitted infections that gives results immediately, without needing to send samples to a lab.  

Innovation addressing global challenges   

Ideas with Impact is designed to support promising commercial ideas from across our University community. The awards support start-ups that address pressing local and global challenges, ensuring Manchester’s best innovations can move out into the world more quickly, while also creating tangible economic growth. 

In addition to financial support, winners receive access to experienced mentors, networking opportunities, and guidance in translating their research and IP into viable business ventures. 

Donors at the heart of our innovation ecosystem 

The Ideas with Impact Awards are supported by the University’s generous community of donors, who ensure Manchester can continue to support the very best talent at a critical early stage. Philanthropy has already made a huge impact on the University’s innovation ecosystem and will play a vital role as Manchester scales up its ambition to become Europe’s leading innovation university.  

A statement from our judging panel 

 “We are delighted to be able to award the Ideas with Impact funds to a group of budding entrepreneurs who play a critical part in The University of Manchester’s innovation ecosystem. Philanthropy plays a key role in bringing these innovative ideas to life, by supporting founders and helping them to evolve their concepts into high value start-ups and spin-outs.   

Working closely with a community of like-minded donors, business leaders and industry partners enables us to create high value impact, both socially and economically. We are delighted to congratulate our winners and, for all our other finalists and applicants, do not be disheartened! We are building a growing and supportive network through the Innovation Academy to help your amazing ideas get to their next milestone, and we can’t wait to work with you all.”   

• Dr Cat Headley, CEO of The University of Manchester Innovation Factory 
• John Holden, Associate Vice-President for Major Special Projects at The University of Manchester. 
• Professor Aline Miller, Director of the Innovation Academy and Chief Scientific Officer of Unit M at The University of Manchester. 

Philanthropic Support  

Interested in supporting brilliant future founders and ensuring entrepreneurship for all? We’d love to explore opportunities with you. Contact Olympia Kennard, Head of Philanthropy, Research & Innovation, to begin a conversation: [Olympia.Kennard@manchester.ac.uk](mailto:Olympia.Kennard@manchester.ac.uk). 

Our innovation ecosystem 

• Read more about Unit M here: Unit M — The University of Manchester's Innovation Unit  
• Read more about the Innovation Factory here:  The University of Manchester Innovation Factory  
• Read more about the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre here:  Masood Entrepreneurship Centre | The University of Manchester 

Published by HESA, the register is the most comprehensive dataset of its kind, providing the first open and auditable record of spinout activity across the UK’s higher education sector. It captures all spinout companies established by UK universities between 2012/13 and 2023/24, offering a robust measure of how effectively research is being translated into commercial ventures.

The University of Manchester’s performance reflects more than a decade of sustained effort to support its researchers in building successful, impactful businesses from world-class academic work. Driven by The University of Manchester Innovation Factory, 122 spinout companies were established during the period covered by the register, in fields ranging from advanced materials and biotech to environmental innovation.

The Innovation Factory plays a central role in this success. As the University’s Technology Transfer Office (TTO), the Innovation Factory is responsible for the commercialisation of the University’s research. This includes supporting the creation and development of spinout companies based on ideas and discoveries generated by the University’s academics.

Dr Catherine Headley, CEO of the Innovation Factory, said: “This is a fantastic recognition of the strength of our innovation community in Manchester. It shows not just how many spinouts we’re helping to launch, but the real value of the support we offer to researchers with great ideas. 

"We’re proud to see so many of those ideas becoming successful businesses, and we’re committed to helping even more of them make that journey. In doing so, we’re building on Manchester’s long history of innovation and helping to secure the city’s future as a global centre for discovery and enterprise.”

The Innovation Factory provides a full spectrum of technology transfer services, including early-stage evaluation, intellectual property management, licensing, company formation and investor support. It works closely with academic teams, industry partners and investors to ensure that ideas with commercial potential receive the guidance and support they need to succeed.

The HESA Spinout Register has been developed in partnership with Jisc, Research England and the University Commercialisation and Innovation Policy Evidence Unit at the University of Cambridge. It is based on validated institutional returns to the Higher Education Business and Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey and represents the first national resource of its kind.

The University of Manchester’s position in the register highlights its commitment to delivering impact through innovation and its leadership in turning research into economic and societal value.

For more information, visit the Innovation Factory website.

Apini is a spinout from The University of Manchester developing a new treatment for chronic inflammatory diseases using a small molecule approach. The company was formed with help from the University’s Innovation Factory, its technology transfer office. According to the Spotlight on Spinouts 2025 report by the Royal Academy of Engineering and Beauhurst, the Innovation Factory supported the launch of 114 spinout companies between 2011 and January 2025, placing the University among the UK’s top institutions for spinout creation.

Spun out of the University of Manchester, Apini is developing a novel small molecule for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. Potential indications include Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis, the two most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which affects as many as 10 million people worldwide. Apini is looking to address the significant unmet need in this area of medicine through targeted modulation of eNAMPT, an enzyme implicated in multiple inflammatory conditions.

Preclinical studies demonstrate the potential for selective eNAMPT modulators to treat various inflammatory diseases without inducting immune suppression.

Apini was discovered by founding scientist Professor Sam Butterworth, who is world-renowned for his work in the invention of Tagrisso, a life-saving anti-cancer drug for EGFR mutant lung cancer that is used globally.

Slingshot was built by Syncona with an initial commitment of £12.5 million to identify and advance de-risked therapeutic programmes from the work of leading academic researchers. Apini is the first company to work with Slingshot, following its launch in November 2024, with Northern Gritstone becoming the first co-investor.

Apini’s funding from Northern Gritstone and Syncona will be delivered over three tranches tied to company milestones, with the original commitment unchanged in value.

Northern Gritstone Chief Executive, Duncan Johnson, said: “Apini is based on the groundbreaking drug development work of Professor Sam Butterworth from The University of Manchester, and is a fantastic example of life sciences company creation based on world-class research. We’re delighted to invest in Apini, alongside Syncona, and with the support of the Slingshot accelerator”

Founder of Apini, Professor Sam Butterworth said “This investment from Northern Gritstone supports Apini’s mission to treat inflammatory diseases without the induction of immune suppression. We look forward to advancing and accelerating the Apini programme which we believe can bring meaningful improvements to patients across a broad range of chronic inflammatory diseases.”

Executive Chair of Slingshot, Edward Hodgkin added: “We are delighted to welcome Northern Gritstone as an investment partner for Apini, with the investment providing further validation of this novel programme. We believe that Slingshot’s expertise and operational support has the ability to accelerate exceptional academic science, like Apini, into attractive biotech assets that can quickly and effectively transform into groundbreaking treatments for patients.”

●      Led by The University of Cambridge and The University of Manchester, and supported by the two Mayoral Combined Authorities, City Councils, alongside businesses and investors

A groundbreaking partnership between The University of Manchester and The University of Cambridge has been awarded £4.8 million by Research England to accelerate inclusive growth and innovation collaboration. As the UK’s first cross-UK innovation partnership, it will pioneer a new model of place-to-place collaboration and help drive economic growth for the UK- setting an example for other cities to follow. With further investment from the two universities, the total funding for the partnership will be £6m.

The partnership will be led by Unit M and Innovate Cambridge - the universities’ respective innovation capabilities - with support from the two Mayoral Combined Authorities, City Councils, businesses and investors. It is a prime example of how a university-led, cross-UK innovation collaboration can enhance the UK's global competitiveness and foster innovation-driven growth.

This initiative responds directly to the UK government’s imperative for universities to support the delivery of the national Industrial Strategy and make a stronger contribution to economic growth.

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice Chancellor of The University of Manchester, commented: "Our partnership with Cambridge marks a new model of collaboration between UK universities. It brings together the distinctive strengths of each of our universities and cities, connecting two of the great innovation ecosystems to scale up what we can achieve. This new approach to innovation accelerates the time between discovery and impact, getting ideas into the real economy and our communities even more quickly to drive inclusive growth.”

Professor Lou Cordwell, Chief Executive of Unit M, said: “Universities are increasingly taking a lead in convening and catalysing their innovation ecosystems. By bringing together investors, businesses, entrepreneurs, academics, and public sector agencies, this partnership will create new opportunities and stimulate investment into the innovation economy. We are proud at Unit M to be part of such a pioneering partnership, and look forward to continuing to work with Cambridge.”

Professor Deborah Prentice, University of Cambridge Vice-Chancellor, commented: “This pioneering initiative brings together the combined strengths of Cambridge and Manchester to create something that is truly ground-breaking. By connecting our cities, we’re helping to build a more collaborative and dynamic environment in which innovative research can connect with industry, venture capital and entrepreneurs to drive economic growth and deliver real benefits for people and places across the UK.”

Science Minister and Oxford-Cambridge Growth Champion, Lord Vallance, said: “This pioneering partnership is proof that our ambitions for the Oxford-Cambridge Corridor can and will fire up economic growth across the length and breadth of the UK, which is critical to our Plan for Change.

“Cambridgeshire and Greater Manchester are forging a path I hope others will follow. Science is always stronger when we work together, and stronger research ties between the UK’s great regions will only lead to more investment, more opportunities, and more breakthroughs, from health to clean energy and beyond.”

Jessica Corner, Executive Chair of Research England, commented: “This investment underscores our commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration across England. By connecting the vibrant ecosystems of Cambridge and Manchester, we aim to drive significant economic growth and create a model for place-based innovation that can be replicated nationwide."

At the core of the partnership is the exchange of complementary innovation assets to ensure real-world impact. Both cities already have strong R&D capabilities and strengths in leading-edge sectors such as AI, life sciences, and advanced materials. Cambridge has deep investor networks but experiences growth constraints due to its small scale, higher costs, and lack of development land. Manchester provides that scale, affordability for start-ups and scale-ups, and a large talent pool - but has a less mature support ecosystem.

The Research England funding will be used in three key areas: ecosystem activation and integration; growing investment; and testing and learning.

●      Ecosystem activation and integration: It will strengthen relations within and between the innovation ecosystems of the two cities, to create a vibrant and ambitious cross-city innovation network. This aims to create progressive new approach inclusive growth.

●      Growing investment: It will harness the combined strengths of both universities and partner cities to support start-ups and scale-ups to secure funding and grow, attract innovation-intensive FDI to the UK, and stimulate investment into R&D.

●      Testing and learning: It will pilot new approaches and share best practice for delivering ecosystem collaboration and inclusive growth. This will allow other cities, the wider higher education sector community, and local and national governments in the UK and internationally to learn from the partnership.

The Ideas With Impact Prize, which is supported by philanthropic donors to the University, aims to award £300,000 in its first funding round this summer. 

Scaling up support for founders 

Delivered by Unit M and the Innovation Factory, Ideas With Impact Prizes will provide individual awards of £100,000, £50,000, and £20,000 to entrepreneurs at the early stages of their founder journey. These awards will empower projects that address pressing local and global challenges, ensure Manchester’s best technologies move out into the world more quickly, and create tangible economic growth.  

In addition to financial support, winners will receive access to experienced mentors, networking opportunities, and guidance in translating research into viable business ventures. 

Donors at the heart of our innovation ecosystem 

The Prize is the latest development in the University’s Ideas With Impact partners’ programme, which has previously provided £400,000 to early-stage research spinouts. Successful projects include the development of a home-testing kit for the early detection of lung cancer, as well as Plant Organelle Technologies – a new spinout developing targeted techniques to tackle drought and herbicide resistance in plants. By reaching a wider range of founders, the Prize launch will maximise the impact of gifts to the programme. 

Donors have already made a great difference to the University’s innovation ecosystem, and will play a vital role as we scale up our ambition to become Europe’s leading innovation university. Ideas With Impact is more than a funding initiative. It's a celebration of the partnership between philanthropists and the University in driving innovation-led growth. 

A call to budding founders and innovators 

Got a great idea with commercial promise? Applications are now open!   

Ideas With Impact is open to any student, staff member, or recent graduate (within three years of graduation) of The University of Manchester, who have the ambition to turn their research and ideas into enterprises that change lives. Key dates below: 

• 20 June 2025: Applications close. 
• 27 June 2025: Finalist announcement. 
• 14 July 2025: Finalist Pitching Competition and networking event. 

Learn more about the Ideas With Impact Prizes and the application process on the University’s competition website. 

Philanthropic Support 

Interested in supporting brilliant future founders and ensuring entrepreneurship for all? We’d love to explore opportunities with you. 

Contact Olympia Kennard to begin a conversation: Olympia.Kennard@manchester.ac.uk. 

Our innovation ecosystem 

• Read more about Unit M here: Unit M — The University of Manchester's Innovation Unit 
• Read more about the Innovation Factory here:  The University of Manchester Innovation Factory 
• Read more about the Innovation Academy here: Welcome - Innovation Academy 

Taking place in Manchester - the birthplace of KTP - the event will mark the pinnacle of national 50^th year celebrations, bringing together the KTP community for a programme of guest speakers, workshops and seminars. 

Since their launch in 1975, the UK Government has funded over 14,000 groundbreaking KTPs, uniting top businesses with researchers and graduates to solve real-world challenges, adding billions to the UK economy.  From 2010 to 2020 alone, Innovate UK invested £200m in 2,000 projects, adding £2.3bn to the UK economy. 

The Innovate UK KTP Awards will showcase this year’s finalists, alongside the KTP Golden Awards - these special honours will highlight legacy projects, partnerships and people that have profoundly shaped the UK economically, socially and environmentally over the last five decades. Registration for the conference and awards is now open, with early bird pricing available until Monday 30 June 2025. 

Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, Lord Vallance, said: “Knowledge Transfer Partnerships have long supported collaboration between our renowned universities, UK innovators and thriving businesses – from helping household brands to produce their goods more efficiently through to unleashing new discoveries that improve lives.  

“They also demonstrate the benefit of public investment, with ambitious, Innovate-UK-backed projects across the country having added billions of pounds to our economy in the previous decade alone. I look forward to these partnerships supporting the next generation of cutting-edge innovations.”  

KTPs are a UK-wide programme designed to foster innovation by linking businesses with academic institutions. With funding and support provided by Innovate UK, the scheme enables companies to access cutting-edge research and specialist knowledge to solve strategic challenges, develop new products and enhance their competitive edge. Greater Manchester was part of the original pilot of the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships scheme when it launched in 1975.  

In a joint statement, the Vice-Chancellors of the three host universities - the University of Salford, Manchester Metropolitan University and The University of Manchester - said: “Together, we are proud to be co-hosting the KTP 2025 Conference and Awards in the birthplace of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships. For 50 years, KTPs have exemplified the power of collaboration between universities and industry - driving innovation, supporting economic growth and tackling real-world challenges.  

“This milestone celebration is not only a tribute to the enduring impact of the programme, but also a springboard for shaping the next era of research-driven partnerships that benefit society locally, nationally and globally.” 

Richard Lamb, KTP Programme Manager at Innovate UK, said: “Celebrating 50 years of the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships programme offers a valuable opportunity to recognise its enduring impact on UK innovation and economic resilience. By bridging academia and industry, KTP has extended vital opportunities to businesses and academic partners across the UK, reaching beyond London and the Southeast to drive innovation in fields ranging from STEM to the creative industries and pioneering areas like AI and quantum technology.  

“This collaborative model has not only boosted productivity and growth but has empowered organisations of all sizes to innovate and thrive on a local and national scale. This 50th anniversary is the perfect occasion to reflect on the impressive impact achieved through the programme and its lasting legacy.”  

The KTP 2025 Conference is aimed at KTP associates, practitioners, academics and funders, whilst the Awards will bring together business, associate, academic and practitioner teams behind the UK’s most transformative projects. 

Find out more about the conference and reserve your place: https://www.ktp2025.co.uk 

What distinguishes these University entrepreneurs? Each finalist has identified real-world challenges and developed innovative approaches that show great potential. From sustainable environmental solutions to ground-breaking healthcare technologies, these ideas showcase the incredible talent nurturing within our university walls.

In this milestone 25th Anniversary year of the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, the competition holds special significance as we reflect on a quarter-century of fostering innovation and entrepreneurial excellence at The University of Manchester.

After an intense selection process, the finalists are competing for funding of up to £15,000 in one of the five categories: Environment, Healthcare, Services, Social & Technology. The winners will be announced at our awards ceremony on 11 June.

Environment Category

Josiah Edebiri - UrbanWatt 

School of Engineering, PhD EEE 

UrbanWatt is revolutionising sustainable urban logistics by simplifying the commercial adoption of Light-EVs through integrated wireless power technology, AI-driven optimisation, and smart charging systems.

Farah Frikha - Vesta Capsules 

School of Engineering, Mechatronic Engineering 

Inspired by Japanese capsule hotels, Vesta Capsules offers affordable, eco-friendly sleeping pods built with smart technology and sustainable materials, providing a modern alternative to traditional accommodations.

Mohammad Israil Hossain - Aqua Graph 

School of Natural Sciences, Nano and Functional Materials 

Aqua Graph has developed graphene-based filtration technology where micro-sponges can adsorb harmful chemicals from wastewater up to their own weight, with a reversible process allowing for material recovery and reuse.

Thando Mathe - Khuluma 

School of Environment, Education and Development, MSc Global Development Environment and Climate Change 

Khuluma uses AI-driven climate communication to break language barriers across Africa, making critical climate information accessible to diverse communities.

Healthcare Category

Adrian Perez Barreto - Revine 

CDT-Advanced Biomedical Materials 

Revine addresses diabetic limb ulcers with a graphene-based electrostimulation patch that enhances tissue regeneration while preventing infection, with integrated biosensors providing real-time wound data.

Indu Khemchandani - DiabetesCareAI 

Alliance Manchester Business School, MBA 

DiabetesCareAI is an AI-powered app helping users manage diabetes through real-time insights, personalised recommendations, and seamless device integration, with a freemium model and B2B partnerships.

Grigorii Rodionov - FlashAid AI 

School of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering BEng 

FlashAid AI tackles ambulance delays with an AI-powered platform for emergency response featuring instant triage, smart dispatch, real-time tracking, and dynamic routing optimised for traffic conditions.

Jasper Beaumont - Mend 

School of Medical Sciences, MBChB Medicine 

Mend is an AI-powered digital mental health platform helping patients build positive lifestyle habits through automated tracking, personalised care insights, and data-driven recommendations.

Services Category

Usman Aziz - JIFFL

Alliance Manchester Business School, PhD Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy 

JIFFL is a SaaS platform revolutionising part-time recruitment with an end-to-end solution enabling all recruitment stages on a mobile app and website, supported by machine learning and NLP for automated interviews.

Xiang Zheng - Purfetch 

Alliance Manchester Business School, MBA 

Purfetch combines an AI-powered app and pet robot to help owners better understand their pets' emotional changes, behaviours, and health needs through real-time analysis and personalised care advice.

Matilde Lerias - Syncit

Alliance Manchester Business School, MSc Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship

Syncit is a fitness app that considers the menstrual cycle, providing science-backed personalised fitness, nutrition, and wellbeing plans to help women maintain consistent routines.

Sebastian Contreras - Unisights

Alliance Manchester Business School, BSc Management (Innovation, Strategy & Entrepreneurship) with Placement

Unisights connects Latin American high school students with UK universities through insights from current students, direct access to university representatives, and AI-powered university matching.

Social Category

Alex Kapadia - Pomelo

School of Natural Sciences, Earth and Planetary Science 

Pomelo is an AI-powered platform making local shopping more affordable and convenient by connecting users with nearby food suppliers and chefs, with smart meal planning to reduce food waste.

Bohyuck Han - The Senior Vision Project

Alliance Manchester Business School, MSc Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship

The Senior Vision Project addresses elderly poverty by creating meaningful part-time employment and providing AI-powered dementia prevention training, with data sales reinvested into senior employment projects.

Derry Duffy - Cause

School of Social Sciences, BSocSc Politics and International Relations

Cause is the first online giving platform built specifically for small charities, removing fundraising barriers with no platform fees and enabling connections through data-driven recommendations.

Oboroghene Ogbevire - PalmPro

School of Biological Sciences, Biochemistry BSc (Hons)

PalmPro is pioneering sustainable palm oil extraction through extremophile-derived enzymes that enhance oil yield while reducing environmental impact, with profits reinvested in small-scale producers.

Technology Category

Patrick Johansen Sarsfield - Graphene Thermal

School of Natural Sciences, Graphene NOWNANO CDT

Graphene Thermal specialises in cutting-edge graphene heated floor panels that reach their target temperature in seconds while consuming over 50% less power than conventional underfloor heating.

Dr Sangeethsivan Sivakumar - Ardhann

School of Natural Sciences, PhD Materials

Ardhann develops advanced carbon fibre composites and graphene-based solutions for hydrogen and hydrocarbon storage systems, with integrated monitoring and a SAAS platform for predictive maintenance.

Leo Benjamin Feasby - PulsR

School of Natural Sciences, MPhys Physics with Astrophysics

PulsR offers a suite of AI-powered GPTs including Image Generator Pro and Excel AI, with over 10 million chats and top rankings on ChatGPT's store, enhancing productivity across various fields.

Eduardo Marques - Amplify

School of Engineering, BEng Mechatronic Engineering

Amplify is building a non-invasive Brain-Computer Interface wearable that reads brain signals and uses AI to decode them into commands, streamlining repetitive tasks for 10x productivity.

MEC would like to invite the community at The University of Manchester in congratulating these remarkable entrepreneurs on reaching the finals of the Venture Further Awards 2025. Their innovative ideas showcase the exceptional talent and entrepreneurial spirit within the University ecosystem.

Stay tuned for the announcement of winners on 11 June!

#VentureFurtherAwards2025 #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #StartupCompetition

Find out more about the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC) on our website here.

Between 2011 and January of this year, 114 spinout companies were tracked for The University of Manchester in data produced by the Royal Academy of Engineering and Beauhurst.   

There has been a significant rise (32.6%) in the number of Manchester spinouts since the last report, jumping from 86 to 114. Eight additions were due to the revised HESA definition of what constitutes a spinout.  

The University’s Technology Transfer Office, The University of Manchester Innovation Factory, has been at the forefront of spinout generation at the University, helping to bring ideas to life by licensing intellectual property (IP) and making an impact on industry.  

Catherine Headley, CEO of the Innovation Factory, said: “With many years of experience delivering commercialisation from The University of Manchester’s research and intellectual property, we are proud to play a key role in the University’s impressive ranking as a top-tier institution for spinout generation.  

“The Innovation Factory is excited to build on the success of the more than 100 existing spinout companies we have created from the University’s academic research, driving further innovation and impact for the region and beyond.”   

The report highlighted how the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Oxford, Cambridge and London, the UK’s research and development (R&D) cluster, accounts for 27.7% of the total spinout population.   

The University of Manchester fell just behind Imperial College London (132) for number of spinouts, with the University of Cambridge (175) and University of Oxford (225) taking the second and first spots respectively.  

The report also highlighted the top sectors by number of spinouts, with pharmaceuticals (399), data provision and analysis (282) and electronics hardware (269) making up the top three. The highest emerging sectors in this report include artificial intelligence (214), software-as-a-service (180) and CleanTech (169).  

In keeping with Manchester’s innovation drive, the University of Manchester recently established its new innovation capability, Unit M, to connect and catalyse the innovation ecosystem in Manchester and the wider region.  

By making the University’s world-class research, innovation assets and talent more accessible to all, Unit M is attracting and growing innovation-intensive businesses in the region. It is designed to address all aspects of the innovation challenge – from R&D and innovation adoption through to talent and skills – creating an economy that creates good jobs, higher pay, and improved productivity, alongside supporting and nurturing spinout talent.  

Professor Lou Cordwell OBE, CEO of Unit M, said: “The University of Manchester has long been the innovation engine of the city, making it no surprise that it has ranked so highly for spinout generation.  

“This stellar track record has paved the way for Unit M to drive a more inclusive model of innovation-led growth, bridging the gap with other participants in the innovation economy. This outward facing ethos will make the innovation assets and talents of the University more accessible to all - enabling Manchester to fulfil its economic potential and supercharge growth both regionally and nationally.” 

Catherine steps into the role full-time, having served as Interim CEO over the past year, while also fulfilling her responsibilities as Director of Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange at The University of Manchester. With a wealth of experience in working with businesses, technology transfer and innovation, she brings a deep commitment to advancing UoMIF’s mission of identifying and commercialising groundbreaking research to drive social, environmental and economic impact. 

Catherine will be succeeded in her previous role as Director of Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange by Dr Louise Bates, who joins from her position as Head of Strategic Partnerships at The University of Manchester.

“I am thrilled to take on this role at such an exciting time for the Innovation Factory,” said Catherine. “Manchester has a proud and established legacy of pioneering innovation that shapes the world and I am eager to build on that tradition. My goal is to strengthen our partnerships, empower our academics, inventors and researchers, and accelerate the journey from discovery to real-world solutions that benefit society and bolster the UK’s position as a global leader in innovation.”

The appointment comes at a time when technology transfer offices (TTOs) across the UK are increasingly recognised for their economic contributions. 

A 2023 report highlighted that university spinouts in the UK employ tens of thousands and generate billions in revenue annually, underscoring the critical role of organisations like UoMIF in fostering innovation ecosystems. UoMIF plays a critical role in supporting growth in the region through its spinouts and innovation, and is now perfectly placed to grow and increase the environmental, societal and economic impact that it contributes.

Over the past several years, UoMIF established itself as a vital bridge between academic research and commercial application, supporting the University’s ambition to create impact through translation of world-class research. Catherine aims to build on this foundation, driving UoMIF towards ambitious goals while reinforcing Manchester’s historic role as a hub of technological advancement.

Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, welcomed the appointment, saying: “I’m delighted Catherine is stepping into the role of CEO at the Innovation Factory. Her leadership, creativity, and commitment to bringing our research to life exemplify exactly what we're about as a University. 

"Her appointment will help us accelerate the journey from discovery to real-world impact, ensuring our ideas make a meaningful difference - not just here in Manchester, but nationally and globally. It's an exciting step forward as we continue to push boundaries in research and innovation, and I'm truly looking forward to seeing what she'll achieve.”

Professor Richard Jones, Vice-President, Regional Innovation and Civic Engagement at The University of Manchester, said: “Catherine’s leadership comes at a pivotal moment for the Innovation Factory as we seek to amplify Manchester’s position as an innovation powerhouse for the region and the nation. Her appointment signals our commitment to transforming bold ideas into tangible solutions, fostering a vibrant ecosystem where research fuels regional growth and global breakthroughs. 

"The Innovation Factory, under her guidance, will be a valuable asset to support the University’s world-class innovators and transformative technologies.”

For more information about the University of Manchester Innovation Factory and its work, please visit www.uominnovationfactory.com.

A highlight of the life sciences calendar, the awards dinner was held at the Concorde Conference Centre on 6 March, with over 340 attendees gathering for an evening of celebration and achievement.

The University and Saraco Industries received the Project of the Year Award in recognition of taking a major step forward in the area of research, by demonstrating an innovative and novel approach for a collaborative project - marking a breakthrough in sustainable healthcare products.

An interdisciplinary team from Manchester comprising of materials science, biological physics and microbiology experts collaborated with Saraco Industries, a UK-based SME wet wipe manufacturer, to achieve a breakthrough first – a plastic-free wet wipe meeting EN standards against bacteria, yeast, and viruses under dirty conditions with a 1-minute contact time. This innovative clinical disinfection wipe has now been commercialised and submitted against an NHS tender.

The collaborative partnership has continued to develop and grow, including securing a 3-year Centre for Doctoral Training PhD project in Advanced Biomedical Materials, a follow-on UKRI IAA Advance Fund project to further optimise the existing wipe formulation, and a recent second Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) submission to develop bacteriophage-infused wipes for healthcare applications.

Sarah Cartmell, Professor of Bioengineering, The University of Manchester said: “We are so proud to be recognised for our achievements in this important interdisciplinary project. Our progress is a result of the synergy of University and industry collaboration. We look forward to building on our success with our continuing teamwork.”

Andrew McBain, Professor of Microbiology at The University of Manchester said: “KTP has enabled The University of Manchester to make a tangible, positive contribution to a highly dynamic local business. It has been so rewarding to see the KTP Associate, Carolina Angulo Pineda, develop through considerable talent and tenacity, into a mature scientist who is now employed full-time as a Senior R&D Materials Scientist at Saraco.”

Dr Carolina Angulo Pineda, KTP Associate and now Senior R&D Materials Scientist, Saraco Industries, commented: “I will always be honoured and grateful to have been part of this fantastic KTP Team. This opportunity allowed me to grow both personally and professionally, and I look forward to continuing to work together on innovative solutions for real-life challenges.”

Idris M Bapu, Managing Director, Saraco Industries, added: “This is a wonderful honour and acknowledgment of all the hard work put in by the KTP team, the Academics at The University of Manchester and our Saraco team members. This award will be prominently displayed in our offices with great pride.”

The project was funded through an Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership; celebrating its 50th year in 2025 of bringing together forward-thinking businesses and organisations, academics, and graduates to solve complex innovation challenges which help our economy, society, and environment. Delivered through the Knowledge Exchange Partnerships team, part of Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange, The University of Manchester has collaborated on more than 300 KTPs and in the last five years alone, has supported 42 KTPs with a total research value of £11 million.

If you would like to discuss how KTP can help your business innovate for growth, please contact collaborate@manchester.ac.uk.