University of Cambridge spin-off companies receive £100M investment from Cambridge Innovation Capital
University of Cambridge Launches New Initiative to Boost Tech Spinouts
The University of Cambridge is stepping up its game in technology commercialisation with the launch of two new programmes: the Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) programme and the Founders programme. These initiatives are designed to increase the number of quality spinouts, accelerate their path to commercialisation, and attract investment into the university's tech ecosystem.
The EIR programme, launched in partnership with Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC), identifies intellectual property (IP) with commercial potential and pairs academic inventors with experienced executives from deep tech and life sciences sectors. This programme supports academic founders in building companies by leveraging the expertise of a rolling cohort of up to six EIRs, many of whom have had successful exits in previous ventures.
CIC is committing at least £100 million to invest in spinouts from the University of Cambridge. Companies created within the EIR programme can access this new funding. This investment is part of the launch of Fund III, CIC's latest £250 million early-stage venture fund focused on the Cambridge ecosystem.
The Founders programme, on the other hand, is aimed at supporting new company creation. It is one of the University of Cambridge's strategies to attract investment and generate economic growth by developing the next generation of world-class companies.
The university's commitment to innovation is evident in its impressive track record. It has produced the most unicorns of any European ecosystem and generated £23 billion in economic interest linked to research and commercialisation each year. In 2024, the University of Cambridge created more spinout companies than any other university.
To further boost its tech ecosystem, the university has plans for four million sq. ft of high-tech development at Cambridge West and a new Innovation Hub in central Cambridge. These spaces will provide startups with the facilities they need to grow and thrive.
The new EIR programme and the Founders programme are part of a broader support ecosystem that includes the Technology Investment Fund and Cambridge Enterprise Ventures. The Technology Investment Fund is a new proof of concept fund designed to de-risk world-class research and enable faster commercialisation. Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, on the other hand, is a fund that supports university spinouts. The university has allocated an additional £30 million capital to the £100 million AUM Cambridge Enterprise Ventures (CEV) fund to support increasing university investment in spinouts.
In conclusion, the University of Cambridge's new initiatives aim to provide critical mentorship, networking, and funding access, fostering a stronger pipeline of university spinouts with enhanced commercial prospects. These initiatives are expected to contribute significantly to the UK's economic growth by developing the next generation of world-class companies.
- The EIR programme, launched in collaboration with Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC), will support academic founders in building deep tech companies by pairing them with experienced executives from the deep tech and life sciences sectors, providing them access to the expertise of a rolling cohort of up to six EIRs, many of whom have had successful exits in previous ventures.
- The University of Cambridge's Founders programme is designed to attract investment, generate economic growth, and develop the next generation of world-class companies by providing support for new company creation, taking education-and-self-development a step further in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within the university's tech ecosystem.
