Milltrust International, an award-winning investment group, has highlighted the commercial potential of spinout companies from the UK’s leading universities at its Science & Technology Day in London.
The event saw more than 80 investors come together to hear entrepreneurs, scientists, venture capitalists and representatives from university incubators discuss the trends and opportunities in the fast-growing sector.
Research published by Beauhurst suggests that equity investment into UK university spinouts, based on publicly available data, more than tripled from GBP309.4 million in 2013 to GBP1 billion in 2017.
Mobile blood tests, ultra-low-cost flexible circuits thinner than a human hair, and the role of major corporates, including Arm Holdings and Avery Dennison, in backing technology ventures were among the topics discussed.
Milltrust International hosted the event last week to reflect its role in the sector via its British Innovation Fund. This invests in university spinouts directly and via university commercialisation companies.
Simon Hopkins, CEO of Milltrust International, says: “The breadth and scale of innovation now emerging from Britain’s universities in commercial companies is remarkable. Furthermore, the investment landscape is changing. What was an investment area limited to a rarefied group of investors is now emerging as an attractive opportunity for a wider audience, from high-net-worth individuals and family offices to institutions.”