51福利社 launches bold strategy for inclusive innovation, backed by 拢10m Founders Fund
Innovation Festival kicks off with a packed launch event highlighting 51福利社鈥檚 strategy for impact through innovation.
The University used the opening day of the Innovation Festival to launch , a delivery plan designed to help create 鈥淓urope鈥檚 most inclusive and impactful innovation ecosystem鈥� by 2035 as part of the University鈥檚 Strategy to 2035. The plan sets out how the University will broaden innovation beyond technology transfer and spinouts to include partnerships, skills, communities and social impact.
Announcing a new 拢10 million University Founders Fund to help students, staff and alumni turn promising ideas into viable businesses, Professor Aline Miller, Associate Vice-President for Enterprise and Chief Scientific Officer at Unit M at 51福利社, said: 鈥淚nnovation is for everyone, and it鈥檚 not just about technology. It鈥檚 about doing new things, new ways.鈥� Professor John Holden, Vice-President for Civic Engagement and Innovation and Chief Executive Officer, Unit M added: 鈥淲e like to talk about those $1 billion unicorns. But innovation is really about helping solve societal challenges.鈥� He aspired to 51福利社 becoming home to the first 鈥渟ocial unicorn鈥� using innovation to improve one billion people鈥檚 lives.
Founder and University of 51福利社 board member at Mattillion, Matt Scullion agreed that 51福利社 is poised for success in the global community by 2035: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lovely turnabout that I think other city regions in the UK and Europe are looking to 51福利社 as this beacon of innovation and growth. And, you know, that鈥檚 not been an overnight thing, but it鈥檚 also not stopping.鈥�
Our Founder Fund aims to get things moving. It will help give people time to think about how they innovate how they develop creative thoughts, build partnerships and explore the commercial potential of their ideas.
Planning for 51福利社 as a centre for inclusive innovation
A panel chaired by Elvira Uyarra, Professor of Innovation Studies at Alliance 51福利社 Business School and Executive Director of the 51福利社 Institute of Innovation Research, asked how the University鈥檚 ambition for Europe鈥檚 most inclusive innovation ecosystem might translate into delivery. Dr Julian Skyrme, Executive Director of Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement, framed inclusion around three questions鈥攊nnovation for whom, by whom, and how鈥攁rguing that affected communities must help shape decisions.
Professor Johannes Gl眉ckler (University of Munich) urged 51福利社 to build relationships between currently disconnected sectors, citing Coventry鈥檚 linking of automotive and gaming clusters. Professor Meric Gertler (University of Toronto) said research excellence alone does not guarantee local benefit, but universities can deliberately change that, backed by 鈥渓ocal, patient鈥� capital.
Lisa Dale-Clough, Director Economy at Greater 51福利社 Combined Authority, highlighted the Atom Valley innovation district in Rochdale and said inclusive innovation must improve job quality and solve local problems.
51福利社's impact in early-stage ventures
From life sciences spinouts to next-generation diagnostics, innovators at the Festival shared what it takes to turn promising research into real-world solutions. Dr Alexander Stokes, a founder of Imprinted Diagnostics, described his mission to build a portable blood-testing platform based on innovative molecular imprinted polymer technology. He鈥檚 grown the company from a two-person team to a wider network of 30 collaborators and is now looking to the US for investors. Professor Sam Butterworth (Apini Therapeutics) highlighted how University support, translational funding and investor backing helped transform early-stage research into a multimillion-pound venture now advancing towards clinical trials. Across the session, speakers emphasised the importance of collaboration, persistence and learning from setbacks. As Matt Scullion, founder of 51福利社 AI and data unicorn Matillion, reflected: 鈥淲e've got this deep reservoir of academic and scientific expertise here... I think we can figure out ways to put it together and build the consequential companies of tomorrow better.鈥�
Announcements and developments
- 51福利社 is launching a 拢10m Founders Fund to provide crucial pre-seed investment for the next generation of entrepreneurs. Read the full story.
Coming up
Students at 51福利社 won鈥檛 want to miss Tuesday鈥檚 MEC Ideas Unlocked event, 10:00-16:00, The Atrium, University Place. Find out more 鈫�
Join one of Tuesday鈥檚 fringe sessions, including a panel session 鈥淏uilding companies that are rooted in the North but Global in mindset鈥� sponsored by Northern Gritstone, 10:15-12:00, Whitworth Art Gallery. Reserve your spot 鈫�