Spinouts driving growth

University spinouts and tech-focused start-up companies have the potential to significantly boost the region’s economy by creating skilled, high-paying jobs and bringing innovative products to market.

The University of Sheffield’s Commercialisation Journey provides a pathway for innovators to turn their research into tangible products or services and since 2017, 23 new businesses have been spun out from the University ranging from advanced medical companies such as Rinri Therapeutics to 4th generation Artificial Intelligence developers such as Opteran. 

The University of Sheffield was in the top five academic institutions for the number of equity deals secured by their spinout portfolios in 2023. The University has also been recognised as one of the top universities in England for developing IP and commercialising research through the latest Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF).

Over the last five years, the University has targeted resources towards establishing high-value spinout companies and was one of three universities that founded Northern Gritstone – a venture investment company established to boost the commercialisation of university spinouts and start-ups in the north of England. By October 2023, its activities had raised more than £312 million of investment.