This summer marks one year since the launch of the Northern Triangle Talent (NTT) programme, a collaborative initiative between the Universities of Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield, designed to strengthen the region’s innovation pipeline by connecting academic entrepreneurs with world-class commercial talent.
Funded through £2.7 million from Research England’s Regional Innovation Fund, the NTT project aims to attract, develop and deploy a globally connected talent community to support early-stage spinouts and help turn outstanding research into real-world impact.
At the University of Manchester, the programme is being delivered by the University of Manchester Innovation Factory, which is dedicated to supporting a wide range of academic projects through mentoring and tailored guidance to help researchers navigate the path from lab to market.
The programme provides support to help close leadership and skills gaps and connects academic founders with seasoned mentors through the Northern Triangle Mentor Network, a diverse group of professionals with experience across business, investment, clinical, and technical fields.
A day of ideas, advice, and impact
In May 2025, the Innovation Factory hosted a key event in the NTT calendar, the Innovation Sprint, held at the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. The day brought together around 50 mentors, academic entrepreneurs, and innovation professionals from across the Northern Triangle for a dynamic exchange of ideas and advice.
The event opened with keynotes from Dr Vikas Shah MBE DL, who spoke about entrepreneurial resilience and the value of asking bold questions, and Dr Richard Unwin, co-founder of Complement Therapeutics, who shared his journey from early research to spinout success. Both speakers reflected on the importance of support from organisations like the Innovation Factory, particularly in the early stages of commercial development.
The core of the event featured a series of 1:1 mentoring sessions: short, focused conversations where researchers pitched their commercial ideas and received direct feedback from experienced mentors. Participants described the format as energising and constructive, with many founders gaining new insights to help progress their work.
Looking ahead
As the NTT programme moves into its second year, the Innovation Factory remains focused on supporting Manchester’s academic entrepreneurs, helping them access expert advice, build strong teams, and realise the commercial potential of their research.
We’re also proud to be working alongside our partners at the Universities of Leeds and Sheffield to further strengthen the Northern innovation ecosystem, creating new opportunities for collaboration, investment, and regional growth.
If you’re an academic at the University of Manchester and would like to find out more about the Northern Triangle Mentor Network or other support available through the NTT programme, speak to your Innovation Factory project manager or get in touch via our website.
