Earlier this year, Professor Irene Tracey CBE, Vice-Chancellor of University of Oxford, was invited by HM Treasury to co-author an Independent Review of the UK’s University Spin-out Ecosystem alongside Andrew Williamson, Managing Director of Cambridge Innovation Capital.
Over the course of the last 6 months, they spoke to the key stakeholder groups associated with the UK’s University Spin-out ecosystem and conducted the most comprehensive survey of founders ever, with over 650 startup companies and founders sharing their journeys. The review and set of recommendations have now been published.
Oxford’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Irene Tracey CBE, FRS, FMedSci, co-chaired the review with Dr Andrew Williamson, Managing Partner of venture capitalist firm Cambridge Innovation Capital. The publication of the review follows eight months of extensive consultation with stakeholders involved in university spin-outs across the UK Higher Education sector.
The recommendations accepted by the Chancellor of Exchequer include a £20 million fund to support the foundation of more spin-out companies based on academic research at UK universities.
Professor Irene Tracey said:
‘As co-chair of the review, I am delighted that the government has accepted our recommendations and committed new funds to support our collective ambition to harness the UK’s world-class university sector as a crucial driver of economic growth and innovation. Over the past eight months, we have engaged extensively with the major stakeholders in the UK’s university spin-out ecosystem and today’s publication of our recommendations is the culmination of this extensive work.’
Oxford University Innovation (OUI) is the research commercialisation office of the University of Oxford and plays a crucial role in catalysing a diverse range of innovation through licensing, consulting services, and supporting the creation of spin-outs, start-ups, and social ventures.
Read more here.
