Commercialisation of university research surges, says new UCLB report

UCLB has released its Impact Report 2025, which shows a surge in spinout activity over the last financial year (August 2023-July 2024).  

 

UCLB’s 2025 Impact Report shows an increase of almost a quarter (24.5%) in academics seeking to commercialise their research, with a trend for AI-related technologies (see notes) and nine spinouts founded over the 12 month period, an average of one every six weeks. 

It has also been a hugely successful year for UCL’s established spinout businesses which are attracting investment and delivering breakthrough technologies to the market, including: 

• A ‘deep tech’ success story in Oriole Networks’ $35m attracting investment in its faster and power-efficient ‘light powered’ data processing tech which could be a game changer for data centres 
• Medical breakthroughs including:
•  Trace Neuroscience raising a record $101m Series A to trial a potential game-changing new treatment for motor neurone disease.
• Autolus gaining FDA approval for its breakthrough immunotherapy for severe resistant lymphoblastic leukaemia, as well as a $250m venture capital investment.  

Key statistics from the report: 

• 2,459 People employed by UCLB spinouts.
• £3bn External investment raised by UCLB between 2019-2024
• 95 Active spinout companies.
• £89m UCLB spinout turnover.
• £248m Spinout portfolio value.
• 24 Advanced therapeutics in clinical-stage pipeline – a pipeline akin to that of a large sized pharmaceutical company.
• £13.4m Invested in UCL technologies by UCL Technology Fund.
• 9 Spinouts founded in the last 12 months, an average of one every 6 weeks.

 

UCLB CEO Dr Anne Lane said: “Today’s report is good news for Britain. Not only is it evidence of a thriving innovation eco-system, it shows how supporting effective commercialisation of university research is the key to unlocking innovation-led growth – whilst helping solve society’s greatest challenge, from achieving net zero to more effective cancer treatments.   

“The secret of success is our end-to-end support for spinouts – from protecting IP and providing early-stage Proof of Concept funding, to investing in high growth businesses through our Technology Funds. Our commitment to the wider innovation ecosystem through supporting academic entrepreneurialism and collaborations across research-led universities is creating an environment where the life-changing potential of academic research can be realised.” 

 

In the foreword of the report, Chi Onwurah, Chair of the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, commented:  

“The UK faces complex challenges that will shape our future. Whether it’s finding cures for rare diseases, achieving net zero, or unlocking the full potential of AI, innovation is key to solving them. Our universities are at the forefront of this effort, producing groundbreaking research and fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs.” 

She adds later: “One thing I’ve learnt is that the success of spinouts and scaleups depends not just on research excellence but on the strength of the wider innovation ecosystem. This report makes clear that when universities, investors, industry, and policymakers work together, they create the conditions for businesses to thrive. When that happens, and as this report shows, investment in these ecosystems pays dividends.” 

 

Proof of Concept funding vital to driving spinout successes 

The report also shows that UCLB awarded over £350,000 in Proof-of-Concept (PoC) funding; small grants which help academics develop investment-ready propositions from their research, a key precursor to the creation of high-growth businesses. The report also highlights major spinout success stories which may not have happened without PoC funding and early-stage seed funding. 

In the Budget, the Chancellor announced she would be “supporting commercialisation of our world class university research by providing at least £40m over five years for Proof of Concept funding and improvements to support for researchers spinning out the UK’s cutting-edge research into firms of the future”. 

UCLB is calling on the Government to expand this fund to ensure as many academics as possible are supported to turn breakthroughs into high growth businesses.  

Social ventures 

The report also highlights the success of ‘social ventures’ – spinout businesses set up to solve specific challenges in communities and which reinvest all their profits into that endeavour.  

These include a device which maximises income for subsistence farmers in sub-Saharan Africa by measuring the starch content of their cassava crops, and an interactive resource to support women to make more informed decisions about their medical treatment by improving the quality, accuracy and relevance of information they receive.