Science for Humanity strategy: Imperial drives real‑world impact through research commercialisation

Imperial College London was honoured with the Outstanding Entrepreneurial University of 2025 award at the Times Higher Education ceremony in Edinburgh. The recognition highlights Imperial's achievement in successfully bringing innovations developed in West London to a global stage, concurrently broadening entrepreneurial prospects both within the UK and internationally.

Since its establishment in 1907, innovation and entrepreneurship have been put at the core of Imperial's mission. Observers noted that the Science for Humanity strategy Imperial would launch in 2024, which builds on this by encouraging students and academics to translate scientific discoveries into real-world solutions and that this is an outright example of the university linking research with global challenges.

Imperial's entrepreneurial ecosystem was highlighted as a major contributor to winning the award. Imperial Enterprise Lab, Advanced Hackspace, those in the Imperial Incubator, and those at the Undaunted climate innovation centre were cited as fostering scientists-turned-entrepreneurs to get help transforming ideas into start-ups, then scale-ups, then global enterprises. Commentators highlighted that in 2024 Imperial was named Europe's largest university, whereas the start-up creation was ranked among the top 60 European start-ups, Sherwood under the command of the Enterprise Lab and Undaunted.

The launch of the Imperial Global Entrepreneur hubs in the USA, Singapore, Ghana and India took place in 2024. These hubs were said to foster international collaboration and market access, supporting 30 student and academic founders through the Venture Treks programme. Simultaneously, Undaunted helped in the co-creation of the Earthshot Climate Innovation Network, which brings together 17 global accelerators to scale 10,000 eco-innovations by the end of the decade.

Imperial has since turned towards increasing access to entrepreneurship. Among them is a new national action network for female entrepreneurs, WE Innovate National, which it will lead in partnership with other UK universities. In a pilot with Queen's University Belfast, 50 teams were assisted, culminating in a £60,000 Grand Final. In partnership with FCDO and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, it launched the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship, selecting 20 founders from over 1,400 applicants to join a six-month programme with activities in Ghana and London.

Observers also noted Britain's strong position in technology transfer and academic entrepreneurship at Imperial. Some recent success stories have included Myricx Bio, a cancer therapy spin-out that raised £90 million, Polaron, winner of the £1 million Manchester Prize for AI innovation, and the White City Incubator, winner of the West London Business Award for Best Incubator. The Founders' Choice equity model of Imperial, said to be the most fondly approached in the UK, would give researchers the flexibility of a long-term partnership with Imperial. This model will influence best practices through the TenU network of premier universities that includes Cambridge, Oxford, MIT and Stanford.

Imperial attained the status of the Imperial Entrepreneurial University of 2025, being an institution that is endowed with vibrant innovation ecosystems, a global reach, support for climate innovation, and a commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship. The award signified how Imperial's commitment to translating its research into a global impact through supporting spin-outs and start-ups and building up a London university start-up ecosystem that is indeed going to shape the future of academic entrepreneurship.

Editor’s Note:

Imperial College London has been named the Outstanding Entrepreneurial University of 2025, a recognition of its achievements in innovation, global reach and inclusive entrepreneurship. The university has built a strong ecosystem through the Imperial Enterprise Lab, Advanced Hackspace, the Imperial Incubator and the Undaunted climate innovation centre, helping science-based founders grow ideas into start-ups, scale-ups and global businesses. Imperial’s global ambition is clear with the launch of Imperial Global entrepreneur hubs in the USA, Singapore, Ghana and India, which have already supported 30 founders through Venture Treks. At the same time, Undaunted has co-created the Earthshot Climate Innovation Network, working with 17 accelerators to scale 10,000 eco-innovations this decade.

The university has also widened access. The WE Innovate National initiative supported 50 women-led teams in its pilot, while the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship brought 20 founders from low- and middle-income countries into a six-month programme with activities in Ghana and London. Imperial’s record in technology transfer and academic entrepreneurship UK remains strong. Successes include Myricx Bio’s £90m Series A, Polaron’s £1m Manchester Prize win, and the White City Incubator’s Best Incubator award. Its Founders’ Choice equity model, seen as the UK’s most founder-friendly approach, gives researchers flexibility and shapes best practice through the TenU network of leading global universities.

Skoobuzz asserts that Imperial has shown how research can be turned into real-world impact, building spin-outs and start-ups while strengthening London’s university start-up ecosystem. The award reflects a clear strategy that links the Science for Humanity strategy of Imperial with global infrastructure, practical support and inclusive pathways to shape the future of academic entrepreneurship.

FAQs

Q1. Why was Imperial College London named the Outstanding Entrepreneurial University of 2025?

Imperial won the award at the Times Higher Education Awards in Edinburgh for successfully scaling innovation from West London to the world and expanding opportunities for entrepreneurship in the UK and abroad.

Q2. What is Imperial’s Science for Humanity strategy?

Launched in 2024, the Science for Humanity strategy at Imperial encourages students and academics to turn scientific discoveries into real-world solutions, linking research directly with global challenges.

Q3. What makes Imperial’s entrepreneurial ecosystem unique?

Imperial’s ecosystem includes the Imperial Enterprise Lab, Advanced Hackspace, the Imperial Incubator, and the Undaunted climate innovation centre. These facilities support science-based entrepreneurs from the idea stage to start-up, scale-up and global enterprise.

Q4. How has Imperial been recognised internationally for start-up creation?

In 2024, Imperial was named Europe’s leading large university for start-up creation by the Redstone University Startup Index. Both the Enterprise Lab and Undaunted were ranked among Europe’s top 60 start-up hubs by the Financial Times.

Q5. Where are Imperial’s global entrepreneur hubs located?

Imperial launched Imperial Global entrepreneur hubs in the USA, Singapore, Ghana and India. These hubs promote international collaboration and market access, supporting founders through programmes such as Venture Treks.

Q6. How does Imperial support climate innovation?

Through the Undaunted Climate Innovation Centre, Imperial co-created the Earthshot Climate Innovation Network, a coalition of 17 global accelerators aiming to scale 10,000 eco-innovations by 2030.

Q7. What initiatives has Imperial introduced to widen access to entrepreneurship?

Imperial leads the WE Innovate National network for women entrepreneurs, piloted with Queen’s University Belfast, supporting 50 teams and awarding £60,000 at the Grand Final. It also launched the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship, selecting 20 founders from over 1,400 applicants for a six-month programme in Ghana and London.

Q8. What are some recent success stories from Imperial spin-outs and start-ups?

Examples include Myricx Bio, a cancer therapy spin-out raising £90m, Polaron winning the £1m Manchester Prize for AI innovation, and the White City Incubator winning Best Incubator at the West London Business Awards.

Q9. What is Imperial’s Founders’ Choice equity model?

The Founders’ Choice equity model is regarded as the UK’s most founder-friendly approach. It gives researchers flexibility while maintaining long-term partnerships with Imperial. The model shapes best practice through the TenU network of leading universities worldwide.

Q10. What does this award mean for Imperial College London?

The award confirms Imperial’s position as the Imperial Entrepreneurial University, showing how it translates research into global impact, supports spin-outs and start-ups, and strengthens the London university start-up ecosystem