Mike Cantello Business Development Officer University of Salford Spin-Out Enterprises: Long-Term Support and the Challenge of Sustainability

Spin-Outs - Sustainable Long-Term Support This presentation will focus on the “how to” approach to supporting spin- outs: n providing long-term support n finding the resources

Spin-Outs - Sustainable Long-Term Support This presentation will focus on the “how to” approach to incubating spin- outs: n providing long-term support n finding the resources Based on the Salford experience, and.…..

Spin-Outs - Sustainable Long-Term Support This presentation will focus on the “how to” approach to incubating spin- outs: n providing long-term support n finding the resources Based on the Salford experience, and.…..our work with the other Greater Manchester universities

Spin-Outs - Sustainable Long-Term Support The Greater Manchester experience: A wide-ranging multi-faceted approach to supporting enterprise that……. ……..embraces different types of spin-outs. Can we construct a definition of spin-outs that describes and measures our ground-breaking approach?

UK HEIs - The Enterprise Agenda HEIs and incubation - a strong relationship n A relationship with a track record n A new imperative - emulating the US responding to the UK Government’s strategy ……...

UK HEIs - The Enterprise Agenda The UK Government’s strategy ……... HEIs as prime movers in technology and SME-led growth, encouraged through: n the new regional development agencies n targeted funding ( Higher Education Funding Council) n culture change in academia

UK HEIs - The Enterprise Agenda UK Government UK HEIs Regional Development Agencies Higher Education Funding Council

UK HEIs - The Enterprise Agenda The UK HEIs - meeting the enterprise challenge ………. n UKBI n AURIL n UNICO n University Challenge n Science Enterprise Challenge

The Salford Enterprise Agenda How are we at Salford meeting the challenge? The four key issues …………..

The Salford Enterprise Agenda Technological change - the four key issues: n Labour market changes n The socio-economic hinterland n Lifelong learning n Higher education - content and delivery

The Salford Enterprise Agenda We are addressing these issues on two fronts: (1) The geographical front: n Regional level: NW HEIs - RDA formal linkages n Sub-regional level: GM HEIs, development agencies, utilities n Local level: the local authority, urban regeneration, social inclusion

The Salford Enterprise Agenda (2) The organisational front: embedding enterprise through ………... n faculty and school restructuring n Academic Enterprise - the “third arm” n New University company n Formal links with other GM HEIs

Salford: Enterprise in Practice What are we actually doing in Salford? n Building on our history of spin-out incubation n Our new approach - the wider agenda n New definitions of spin-out

Salford: Enterprise in Practice Spin-out definitions: n staff or student + IPR n staff or student - no IPR n university external service provider n university IPR exploitation vehicle n business park/incubation unit tenants n university licensee n ex members of university company

Salford: Enterprise in Practice Examples of spin-out support mechanisms: n working closely with Faculties n equity and management support n Technology House Incubation Unit n The University Business Park and, in the future …….. The Incubation Partnership (GM HEIs)

Salford: Enterprise in Practice Technology House Incubation Unit … a self-funding facility to provide long-term spin-out support: Technology House houses three types of organisation: n early-stage spin-outs n business support organisations n established spin-outs and other SMEs

The Incubation Partnership creating a sustainable resource for long-term spin-out support - its members: n Manchester Victoria University n Manchester Metropolitan University n University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) n University of Salford

The Incubation Partnership Their roles………... Manchester Victoria University: n the incubation process n ideas generation n company formation

The Incubation Partnership Their roles ……….. University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology: external resources - n finance, including seedcorn funds n professional services, legal, financial, patents etc

The Incubation Partnership Their roles …………... Manchester Metropolitan University: n training and short courses n incubation support professions n resource brokering

The Incubation Partnership Their roles ……………… University of Salford: broad-band information network - delivery and linkages to the sub-region and …. eventually…... the North-West region

The Incubation Partnership Some key issues: n The need for structured “joined-up” funding - critical mass and credibility n The need for human resource management and training n Individual incubation roles -the need for ongoing mentoring and close support

The Route to Sustainable Support? The Incubation Partnership - the right route? HEIs and Spin-outs…….. …...the limitations of doing it alone: n The constraints of academia and the JIT factor n limits and constraints on resources There is an obvious need to share expertise …and enlist external resources

Conclusion Perhaps there is a need to define both the meaning and role of spin-outs in the context of this wider HEI involvement in technology-driven growth. To do so, we must accept that: n spin-outs come in different forms n we need quantity as well as quality n they are not the only motor for technology transfer and enterprise formation END