Dr Richard Holliday has joined the University of Manchester Innovation Factory as its new Materials & Manufacturing Expert in Residence.
Richard said he was excited to start working with researchers and academics across the University: “Manchester has so many exciting research activities across the physical sciences and engineering. For a materials and manufacturing expert who is motivated by helping move things from the lab to the market it is the perfect research-intensive institution to work with.”
Richard brings more than two decades of experience across research commercialisation, industry and investment. After completing an Engineering Doctorate in the metals industry, he worked as a materials engineer at Land Rover and BMW before moving into global technology scouting and corporate investment. In that role he backed early-stage technology ventures ranging from catalytic materials to new photovoltaic devices.
He has since worked in a wide range of commercialisation environments including as COO of thin film display spinout Bodle Technologies and as head of the materials and engineering commercialisation team at Oxford University Innovation. He has also shaped entrepreneurship programmes for the Royal Society of Chemistry served as an Entrepreneur in Residence for SETsquared and been a Venture Partner at Zinc.
Reflecting on how his experience will support academics at Manchester Richard said: “I have been fortunate in my career to have had roles right across the commercialisation space in industry, in spinout teams, including as a co-founder, in venture investing, and within a University TTO. So, I have seen all types of commercialisation journeys for university research, and I should be well placed to advise on both best practise and avoiding the common mistakes.”
Richard said that turning a materials or manufacturing idea into something that can be produced or scaled is often a long process: “It really depends on the industry sector deploying the new technology but in general taking a new material to commercial deployment is often a lengthy process so getting some early industry feedback and real-world insights is important. I will be aiming to help with that through my networks in this role.”
He added that joining Manchester felt like the right step. “Manchester and the wider Northern Triangle which includes Leeds and Sheffield is fast becoming one of the UK’s commercialisation hotspots. After many years in the Oxford ecosystem, it is clear the same key ingredients are here too world class science, investors, industry and highly supportive commercialisation teams. It should be a lot of fun.”
Dr Catherine Headley, CEO of the University of Manchester Innovation Factory, welcomed the appointment: “Richard brings a depth of expertise that will be invaluable to researchers working at the intersection of materials innovation and commercial potential. His experience spans industry spinouts investment and technology transfer and we are delighted to have him working alongside our teams and academic colleagues.”
