In an era when innovation ecosystems are under increasing pressure to deliver both societal and economic impact, the question is no longer whether collaboration matters—it’s how we make it work. Across the UK, universities and research organisations are recognising that by pooling their technology transfer capabilities, they can amplify impact, accelerate spinouts, and make knowledge exchange more sustainable.  This […]

For the past six years, I’ve worked across sectors to build an ecosystem that supports the commercialisation of research for social impact – not just profit. While existing schemes don’texclude social outcomes, they’re primarily designed to attract funding for expensive technological or medical innovations. This often sidelines social value, which rarely offers a high financial return.  Focusing on SHAPE disciplines – Social […]

University spin‑outs are firmly in the spotlight. The publication of the UK’s first world‑leading register of university spin‑out companies (https://www.ukri.org/news/world-leading-register-of-uk-university-spin-outs-published/) marks a step change in transparency and evidence around how universities translate research into companies, providing, for the first time, an authoritative baseline of spin‑out activity across the UK. This milestone responds directly to recommendations […]

Put simply, too many universities across the UK possess world-class research facilities which are not realising their potential as reliable, revenue generating service centres.   At a time when universities are under relentless pressure to diversify income, opening up research facilities to external paying clients is an attractive option.  However, this rarely happens consistently.  Surely, if excellent facilities are on offer, a service fit for purpose will naturally […]

When commercialising a new technology, one of your most critical tools is pitching. A pitch is a short presentation, typically 3-5 minutes, in which you grab attention towards your project. Innovators usually have a specific goal when pitching, often to get meetings with potential investors. During that meeting, you can explain the technology in detail. For the pitch, it is best to […]