Investing in Innovation: Unlocking the potential of tomorrow

Dr Catherine Headley highlights how The University of Manchester Innovation Factory transforms research into real-world impact, driving progress through spinouts, collaborations, and investments in healthcare, sustainability, and technology.

The University of Manchester Innovation Factory is at the forefront of transforming groundbreaking research into impactful ventures that address global challenges in healthcare, sustainability, and technology. By fostering spinouts like Apini Therapeutics and TaBriX, and through strategic investments and collaborations, the Innovation Factory accelerates market readiness, strengthens the UK’s innovation landscape and drives economic growth. With a focus on life sciences, engineering, and advanced technologies, the organisation plays a pivotal role in shaping a sustainable and innovation-driven future for the UK, creating real-world impact and opportunities.

Innovation is the heartbeat of progress, and nowhere is this more evident than in the society-impacting technologies born from the world’s leading universities. At the University of Manchester Innovation Factory, we are at the forefront of this revolution, driving the commercialisation of cutting-edge research and turning these ideas into impact. Every idea, spinout and license that we nurture represents a leap forward in addressing global challenges, from healthcare to sustainability. 

Driving Commercialisation and Investment

At the Innovation Factory, we believe that investing in innovation goes beyond funding projects – it’s about enabling breakthroughs to reach the market and transform lives. Our role is to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world impact, creating ventures that address critical challenges, particularly in the life sciences and the science and engineering industries.  We are specifically focused on:

• Accelerating Market Readiness: Through targeted investment and strategic support, we enable innovative ventures to move from research to application in the marketplace, creating solutions that impact healthcare and technology.
• Strengthening the UK’s Innovation Landscape: By focusing on core strengths including life sciences, engineering, computing and various advanced technologies, we ensure that investment fuels growth, while making quantifiable social, economic and environmental impact.

Innovation in Action: The Strength of Our Spinouts

The University of Manchester Innovation Factory has created more than 100 spinouts throughout our history that are tackling key problems.  One of these spinouts is Apini Therapeutics, which is developing small molecule therapies for inflammatory diseases.  As part of a substantial £12.5 million investment from Syncona Limited as the first programme launched as part of Slingshot Therapeutics, Apini stands to make significant advancements towards the clinic, addressing critical unmet medical needs.

Another great idea born from The University of Manchester academics, is TaBriX, a spinout dedicated to developing innovative solutions to treat drug-resistant infections such as tuberculosis. TaBriX focuses on the development of drugs that target novel, unexplored biological pathways to fight difficult-to-treat infections and tackle the global threat of drug resistance.

These examples illustrate how the University of Manchester spinouts are driving innovation that not only impacts healthcare but also attracts significant investment and creates high-value jobs, directly impacting our region and the UK economy.

Collaborative Ecosystems That Deliver

Collaboration is key to success, and the Innovation Factory plays an integral role in key initiatives to support and amplify the innovative activities of other Universities in the North West.  Through our work with the Universities of Leeds and Sheffield and funded by the Research England Connecting Capability Fund(CCF), the Northern Triangle Talent Project helps us strengthen technology transfer and create a robust ecosystem for innovation.

CCF funding has also enabled us to work with Manchester Metropolitan University, the Royal Northern College of Music and the University of Salford to increase innovation and drive economic growth across the region while enhancing collaboration between the organisations.

A Strategic Focus on Technology Transfer

Innovation isn’t just about ideas…it’s about delivering solutions that address today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. From environmental and medical breakthroughs to social and technological advancements, our work as a technology transfer office helps shape a sustainable future. Investment in these projects ensures not only a solid commercial return but also a lasting impact on society.

Seizing the Opportunity

The Innovation Factory’s proven ability to transform research into impactful ventures makes it a critical focus for investors seeking meaningful opportunities. With a strong foundation in technology transfer and a vibrant start-up/spinout ecosystem, we are leading the way in defining the UK’s innovation-driven future.

As CEO of the University of Manchester Innovation Factory, I’ve witnessed the transformative power of investment in innovation and how it can take a unique, valuable idea from the lab into the lives of people around the globe. By focusing on commercialising groundbreaking technologies, we can unlock unparalleled potential and secure a brighter future for UK innovation.