Western Europe
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Dutch universities launch standard IP agreement
The National IP Deal Term Principles were developed and will be used by all technology transfer offices in the country going forward.
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Qbic promotes Sara Vandenwijngaert to chief scientific director
Qbic, a venture fund backed by multiple Belgian universities, is introducing the position of chief scientific director and appoints Sara Vandenwijngaert.
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Polytechnique Ventures secures €21 million for second fund
The École Polytechnique-aligned fund has a final target of €30 million to €40 million, which would roughly double its assets under management.
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Karim Bahou joins Manchester innovation district Sister
Karim Bahou has been appointed head of innovation at Sister, a joint initiative of the University of Manchester and Bruntwood SciTech.
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Universities in Jena launch joint tech transfer centre
JenaInnovation is a joint project of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, the University of Applied Sciences Jena, and University Hospital Jena.
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Creator Fund raises $41 million for pan-European fund
The venture fund targets startups built by PhD students, and Creator Fund is targeting a $55 million final close by early 2026.
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Empowering academic founders: policies, programmes, and pitfalls
How can universities instil the entrepreneurial mindset in faculty, staff and students? Is this even something you can teach? And if you can, what are some of the challenges and pitfalls? Figuring out the answers to these questions, and more, is a panel of experts from around the world: Kirsty Collinge, the head of research […]
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Brian McNicoll leaves the University of Dundee
The university’s head of entrepreneurship is stepping down after thirteen years with the Scottish institution.
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Friday Five: VR glaucoma scans, heat-powered sensors, and 3D‑printing space trash into tools
Spinouts turn waste, thermal energy and VR tech into sustainable solutions for industry, space, and healthcare.
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Friday Five: Stop metastasis, sync fleets, sterilise surfaces
Block Biosciences, FleetMQ, Molecular Sustainable Solutions, OnTracx, and TransHumanity make up this week’s selection of spinouts to watch.
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Friday Five: Agate Sensors, Detechgene, Data Revival, SenseAI Vision, xCystence Bio
The Friday Five series is back after the summer break, and we’re kicking things off with an array of spinouts that just so happen to all be operating within the life sciences.
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Portal Innovations kicks off $100 million Velocity Fund
Portal Innovations, established by John Flavin who previously set up the Polsky Center, partners with institutions like UChicago to support spinouts.
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Mandy Parkinson takes on knowledge exchange role at the University of Salford
Prof Mandy Parkinson has been appointed associate pro vice chancellor for knowledge exchange at the University of Salford.
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UCL Business managing director Steven Schooling steps down
Steven Schooling, who has been with University College London’s commercialisation subsidiary since 2006, is leaving today.
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Catherine Lafarge appointed interim president of Linksium
Linksium is one of France’s regional tech transfer organisations, Réseau SATT, and Lafarge had previously served as deputy CEO.
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Vanessa Wood leaves knowledge transfer role at ETH Zurich
Vanessa Wood, vice president for knowledge transfer and corporate relations at ETH Zurich, will step down at the end of the year to focus on her research full time.
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Friday Five: EnAcuity, Filics, Gallion Health, ODOS, Plasma Fresh
Software that turns surgical cameras into hyperpectral imaging tools, a platform that helps farmers operate more sustainably, and cold plasma that kills foodborne pathogens are all becoming real applications thanks to these spinouts.
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Brian McCaul steps down as chief executive of QUBIS
Brian McCaul will leave his role at QUBIS, the commercialisation arm of Queen’s University Belfast, at the end of this year after more a decade in charge.
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Friday Five: Apate, Cosma, Licovolt, pHydrogen, ScoutinScience
The Friday Five series provides a weekly insight into innovative early-stage spinouts that are making a significant impact in their fields.
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Simon Bond moves to the University of Bath
Simon Bond, currently the director of Bristol Innovations, will oversee the development of the Bath Riverside Innovation Quarter.
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Friday Five: Aspecthera, Axiles, LayerLogic, Orinova, Peach Cars
We take a look at some of the early-stage spinouts that caught our eye. This week: Aspecthera, Axiles, LayerLogic, Orinova, Peach Cars
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Friday Five: DigitalCNC, Draig Therapeutics, LastingAsset, RIFT, ScopeBio
We take a look at some of the early-stage spinouts that caught our eye. This time: DigitalCNC, Draig Therapeutics, LastingAsset, RIFT, and ScopeBio.
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Northern Gritstone and Parkwalk Advisors team up for the Northern Universities Venture Fund
Parkwalk Advisors, which already has more than £500 million under management, will manage a new fund in partnership with Northern Gritstone.
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Biotope Ventures reaches 5€ million first close for Fund II
Biotope Ventures, the accelerator and investment arm for Belgian research institute VIB, has raised 5€ million towards a 9€ million goal for its second fund.
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Liam Cronin hired as the new innovation director at University College Dublin
Cronin was most recently the chief executive officer of digital innovation centre RDI Hub and he succeeds Tom Flanagan, who left in October last year.
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Friday Five: Astratus, Hirundo, Lembas, OrisDX, and Somnee
We take a look at some of the early-stage spinouts that caught our eye. This time: Astratus, Hirundo, Lembas, OrisDX and Somnee.
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SETsquared Bristol promotes Caroline Thompson
Caroline Thompson had been a programme manager at the SETsquared Partnership since last year and brings more than a decade of experience to her new role.
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Panel: What’s next for quantum technologies?
What does the future hold for quantum technologies? A panel of experts tackled the challenges at a recent Foresight Live event.
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Nicky Dibben: People buy products, not technology
Nicky Dibben discusses how marketing strategy is everything that comes between you and your customer, and not simply “fluffy” social media.
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Winsome Cheung: Startups, here’s what to know when negotiating with big pharma
Winsome Cheung is a partner at Covington who helps biotech startups and big pharma negotiate deals. Here, she shares what to look out for in contracts.
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Stuart Wilkinson: What does a sweet shop have to do with spinouts?
The impact of university research commercialisation can go far beyond the initial spinout, says Knowledge Exchange UK’s chief executive Stuart Wilkinson.

