Enterprise: Licensing and Ventures – year in review 2025
Our Enterprise Annual Report highlights key activities across the University in support of the Liverpool 2031 vision, showcasing notable achievements, providing case studies of some of our spin-out ventures, and outlining strategies for future growth.
The University of Liverpool is driving the transfer of technology generated from its innovative research – investing in academic founders to create spin-out companies and license novel technologies to create impact for a better world.
The latest Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) results recognise our excellence in 'IP and Commercialisation', where we sit in the highest quintile amongst the country’s leading universities for knowledge exchange.
Enterprise at the University of Liverpool
The Enterprise Team has grown significantly thanks to University support, and helps to support investable founders through training, coaching and mentoring. These activities have led to:
- 29 spin-outs supported in the last seven years
- 24.9 million in intellectual property (IP) related income to the University since 2018
- 133 jobs created (HE-BCI in 2024/25).
The University has committed a total of £6.1 million in Enterprise Investment Funding (EIF) since 2018. This has de-risked technology in the pipeline and leveraged a further £40.2 million of investment, industry and grant funding into our spin-out companies and the University.
Creating investable founders
The Team prioritises investment in training, funding, and support for academic entrepreneurs. Since 2018, more than 70 researchers have been supported through 46 ICURe programmes delivered via the North by Northwest consortium, equipping them with commercialisation skills and generating £2.4 million in follow-on funding, which has resulted in nine spin-outs.
A new partnership with Northern Gritstone expands this support, giving MedTech and Biosciences founders access to NG Studios - a four-month pre-seed programme with KQ Labs at The Crick Institute - providing expert strategic, operational, and fundraising guidance.
In total, the University has trained over 350 researchers in commercialisation since 2018, including 150 in 2024/25.
Annual reports
Read our Enterprise Annual Report 2025 (pdf document), which sets our achievements, provides case studies of some of our spin-out ventures and outlines the strategy for growth over the next five years.
Read previous reports below:
Enterprise Annual Report 2023/24
“Over the past year, we’ve accelerated our enterprise strategy by strengthening support for researchers and forging new strategic partnerships. I’m particularly proud that we became the first non-founding member of Northern Gritstone. Our ambition now is to build on this momentum and position the University at the forefront of UK innovation. This report reflects the collective efforts of our staff, students, and external partners.”