The University of Manchester has achieved a notable fourth-place ranking among UK academic institutions for generating spinout companies, according to the Spotlight on Spinouts 2025 report by the Royal Academy of Engineering and Beauhurst. This recognition highlights the University’s strong contribution to transforming research into innovative commercial ventures.
Between 2011 and January 2025, the University recorded 114 spinout companies, a significant 32.6% increase from the previous count of 86, with eight additional spinouts due to the revised HESA definition. The University of Manchester Innovation Factory has played a key role in this success, supporting the commercialisation of intellectual property (IP) and fostering industry impact.
Catherine Headley, CEO of the Innovation Factory, said: “We are thrilled to contribute to the University’s high ranking for spinout generation. By commercialising cutting-edge research, the Innovation Factory has helped create over 100 spinout companies, driving innovation and economic growth regionally and beyond.”
The report notes that the UK’s ‘Golden Triangle’ of Oxford, Cambridge, and London accounts for 27.7% of the nation’s spinout population. Manchester trails only Imperial College London (132 spinouts), with the University of Cambridge (175) and University of Oxford (225) leading the list.
Click here to find out more and read the full Spotlight of Spinouts 2025 report.
