The University Innovation and
Enterprise Centre
Dr Ceri Williams
Director of Innovation and Enterprise Partnerships
19th September 2014
My Background
• Effective Broker with a Track Record in Value Creation
• Economic development
• Innovation leadership
• Strategic leadership
Director of Innovation and
Enterprise Partnerships
Vision for UIEC
To establish the University of Leeds as a global leader in
innovation and enterprise that delivers societal and
economic benefit for the UK.
Ambition to Deliver Value
The University Innovation and Enterprise Centre is an
ambitious initiative that seeks to grow global leadership
in key technology areas, resulting in
• £75m of new research and innovation funding
• create 50 new high-tech businesses
• generating £1bn new income to the Leeds City
Region.
Ambition to Deliver Value
The University Innovation and Enterprise Centre is an
ambitious initiative that seeks to grow global leadership
in key technology areas, resulting in
• £75m of new research and innovation funding
• create 50 new high-tech businesses
• generating £1bn new income to the Leeds City
Region.
Not a simple task…..
What is Innovation and Enterprise?
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Development of research capability to address future opportunities
Development of applied and translational research
Commercial research and fee for service contracts
Consultancy
Development, management and successful commercialisation of
Intellectual Property through spin-out companies and through license
deals
Development of corporate/strategic partnerships
Continuing Professional Development and Executive Education
Development of student start-up companies
Development of social enterprises
Development of enterprise and innovation capability in staff and in
students
The Aims of UIEC
• Create a high profile gateway and effective structure to deliver a
step change in innovation and enterprise activities in Leeds
• Become UK leading in establishing successful new start-up
companies
• Establish a UK leading environment for innovation and
collaboration
• Maximise the societal impact and profile of Leeds’ innovation
and enterprise activities
Why Leeds?
Why Now?
• Track record of successful commercialisation
• Significant under supply of innovation capacity in the
City
• Renewed confidence in Venture Capital and other
business investors
• New Strategic Plan and commitment from the
University
Lack of innovation hampering SMEs' potential
5th September 2014
"Innovation is a critical part of many firms growth strategies
and yet our survey has highlighted that the ability to be
innovative is a stumbling block for many businesses in the
region. Less than a quarter of the local companies we talked
to felt that they are sufficiently innovative. As the economy
continues to gather pace, we need to prioritise the creation of
a business environment that encourages the
commercialisation of new ideas.”
Successful Commercialisation
Track Record
Over 100 companies since
1995
7 market listed companies
Spin-outs employ over 600
staff
Company value over £450m
60+ technology licences
Keracol
Technologies that ‘change the
World’
a pain-free treatment that allows
decayed teeth to repair
themselves naturally. The
breakthrough would mean the
end of the filling and, more
importantly, drilling
The deadly defence system of a tiny African
beetle has inspired award-winning research
into a new generation of technology.
....materials are now produced
commercially, under the trade name of Curv,
by Propex Fabrics under a licensing
agreement from the Leeds.....
‘Pig patch’ ends risk of
patient’s body rejecting
transplant
Relationship with IP Group
Assessment
Incubation
Evaluation
•Commercial
•Technical
•IP
•Industry
•Value
Proposition
•Company creation
/ infrastructure
•Grub funding
•Strategy dev.
•Business dev.
Seedcorn
Investment
•Routes to market
•Management
•Seedcorn funding
•Dedicated Leeds
Fund
Organic Growth /
IPO / acquisition
•Access to capital
markets
•IPO
•Industry
partnerships
Smart Specialisation
Innovation Hubs
Energy
Climate &
Geo Hazards
Water
Transport
Food
Financial &
professional
services
Social
Care
Digital
Economy
Healthcare
technologies
Healthcare
Services
Stratified
Medicine
Pharma &
biopharma
Cultural &
Creative
economy
High Value
Chemicals
Medical
technologies
Enterprise Strategy Map
• ‘The Enterprising University’ in Russell Group
• By engaging supporters, building capabilities & delivering
exceptional enterprise opportunities to our students & graduates
Small Business Charter Award
• Lord Young’s ‘Growing Your Business’ report
• Witty Review report on universities & growth – Smart
Specialisation
• Role of Business Schools (universities as anchor institutions)
actively supporting student enterprise and small businesses
in the region
• Gold Award
• Launching 2014 with Royal Charter status
How Will UIEC be Delivered?
Café exhibition and networking space to foster collaborations
Dedicated labs and office accommodation
Events programme
Investment partner pool
Incubation programmes
Professional service partners
Clear exit strategy and grow-on
Support for new high tech start-ups
Dedicated innovation capability
Support for graduate entrepreneurs
Develop innovation and enterprise capability
Promotion of key research strengths
Support and £ to drive collaboration
Mechanisms to attract new companies
Strategic partner development
University
Innovation
and
Enterprise
Centre
Routes to access UK and EU funding
Intelligence on future research priorities
Enhanced connections to Alumni
Access to mentors
Enhanced access to LCR opportunities
Showcase innovation and impact
Clear brand and profile
Shared Innovation Management Systems
Defined system to capture economic and societal impact
Delivering the Gateway
The New Centre
Next Steps
• Developing the building specification for UIEC
• Refining the revenue support programme and how this
integrates within the university
• Working with key teams within the University
• Establishing governance processes
• Defining the business model that will generate income that
can re-invested in future growth
• Exploring opportunities for partnering and co-investment
• SOC University Council Nov 2014
• UIEC Open for business 2017
Thank you for listening
I do want to hear so please do get in touch
c.j.r.wiliams@leeds.ac.uk
Tel: 0113 3430922