A groundbreaking project, led by the University of Manchester Innovation Factory, has brought together four Greater Manchester universities in a joint effort to strengthen research commercialisation across the region.
The six-month initiative, funded by Research England’s Connecting Capability Fund (RED Fund), united the technology transfer offices (TTOs) of Manchester Metropolitan University, the Royal Northern College of Music, the University of Manchester (through its Innovation Factory) and the University of Salford.
Running from October 2024 to March 2025, the project was designed to accelerate innovation and economic growth by helping each institution grow its capacity for turning research into new products, services and spinout companies.
While each partner came into the project with different levels of experience and resources, the collaboration created a shared space for openness, support and mutual learning. More experienced teams were able to mentor others, while newer offices brought fresh perspectives and energy.
Through workshops, peer-to-peer discussions and shared resources, the TTOs worked together to develop tools and strategies that will continue to shape their commercialisation activities. Topics ranged from encouraging academics to disclose new ideas to strengthening intellectual property protection, building a healthier commercialisation pipeline and preparing projects for investment.
A central aim was to ensure that the lessons and skills developed in one university could be spread across all four. A distinctive feature of the project was its culture of transparency. Staff shared challenges as openly as successes, breaking down silos and creating trust between institutions. That openness helped the group move quickly, adapting approaches and giving honest feedback on what worked best.
The collaboration has also raised the profile of commercialisation inside the universities themselves. The work of TTOs, often behind the scenes, has been recognised by senior leaders and academic staff alike, helping to embed knowledge exchange more firmly in each university’s culture.
Although the project was funded for just six months, the impact is designed to be long-term. Staff now have stronger professional networks across the region and are continuing to support each other beyond the life of the project. Internal recognition has created new momentum, with one partner already securing fresh investment for its own commercialisation strategy.
The collaboration has also opened the door to future joint bids for external funding, ensuring that the region can keep building on this progress. By sharing expertise and pooling resources, the universities have avoided duplication, improved efficiency and built confidence in Greater Manchester’s collective ability to deliver world-class commercialisation. Importantly, the impact of the project has also been noticed by other technology transfer offices in different regions, with the potential to inspire further collaborative working groups focused on sharing best practice and strengthening national networks.
Technology transfer offices play a critical role in connecting university research with industry, investors and communities. They help protect intellectual property, build partnerships and support the creation of new businesses and jobs. This collaboration, spearheaded by the University of Manchester Innovation Factory, has shown the power of universities working together at a city-region scale to amplify their impact.
Dr Catherine Headley, Chief Executive Officer of the University of Manchester Innovation Factory, said: “The Innovation Factory has been the driving force in commercialising intellectual property originating from The University of Manchester, making us one of the most impactful technology transfer offices in the UK. By participating in this collaboration, we have extended that expertise across the region, ensuring that more ideas can be developed into successful spinouts, licences and partnerships. This project demonstrates the strength of Greater Manchester’s innovation ecosystem and our collective ability to deliver meaningful impact at scale.”
