British Campuses Become Launchpads for Climate, Health, and Tech Solutions

University Spinouts Redefine Innovation Across the UK Academic Landscape

In the evolving landscape of British higher education, innovation is no longer the exclusive domain of elite institutions. While Oxford, Cambridge, and London universities continue to attract global attention, a quieter revolution is underway across the UK’s broader academic ecosystem. From regional campuses to specialised research centres, a new generation of university spinouts is emerging, bringing transformative technologies to market and challenging long-held assumptions about where impactful research originates.

One such example is Bactery, a spinout from the University of Bath, which has developed a technology capable of generating electricity directly from soil. The system uses electrodes to capture electrons released by bacteria during decomposition, with an electronic circuit designed to surface the charge. CEO Jakub Dziegielowski, who conceived the idea during his PhD, aims to commercialise the innovation. With a maximum energy output of four watts per square metre, the technology is currently suited to low-power agricultural applications, such as remote sensors and IoT devices for soil monitoring. However, the team has already achieved a sixfold increase in laboratory output, opening possibilities for broader use in lighting, irrigation, and telecommunications. Bactery is raising $3 million in seed funding, with a lead investor secured. The University of Bath holds a 10% dilutable equity stake, reflecting its support for startups from universities.

Elsewhere, the University of Southampton has produced a spinout focused on software and firmware for 5G satellite networks. Founded nine years ago by Professor Rob Maunder and his research team, the company initially addressed terrestrial 5G demands before pivoting to satellite-based systems to enable universal mobile coverage. The technology is already deployed in dozens of satellites, with expansion planned across multiple constellations. Maunder anticipates that 6G will function more as a software upgrade than a hardware overhaul, requiring close integration between satellite and terrestrial networks. In June, the firm raised $15 million in a Series B round backed by IP Group, Bloc Ventures, IQ Capital, and Swisscom Ventures. The University of Southampton, which originally held a 33% equity stake, has since revised its policy to between 5% and 10%, resulting in a current stake of around 2%. This shift reflects broader trends in higher education research impact and institutional approaches to spinout equity.

The Roslin Institute, part of the University of Edinburgh’s veterinary school and globally recognised for cloning Dolly the Sheep in 1996, has given rise to Roslin Technologies,a spinout focused on stem cells for cultivated meat. The company has pioneered pluripotent stem cells that renew indefinitely and differentiate into any animal tissue. Its portfolio includes beef, pork, and lamb, with seafood options under development. CEO Ernst van Orsouw explained that the stem cells double every 24 hours, enabling exponential growth. After 60 days, the company can produce enough biomass to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Cultivated meat is seen as a sustainable protein source, capable of reducing environmental impact, avoiding antibiotics, and improving animal welfare.

However, production costs remain a challenge. While the first cultivated meat burger in 2013 cost $300,000, current costs are around $1,000 per kilogram. Roslin Technologies aims to reduce this to $10/kg within the next few years,a threshold for commercial viability. The company charges royalties to large food producers and sells biomass to non-biotech sectors. It is also exploring applications in animal health therapies for conditions such as osteoarthritis and kidney disease. In 2022, the firm raised £11 million in a Series A round led by Novo Holdings, with additional backing from Scottish Enterprise, Old College Capital, Nutreco, Future Planet Capital, and Kairos Capital Group. It is now finalising a £10–15 million raise to support its next growth phase.

Another promising spinout is Literal Labs, emerging from the University of Newcastle with a solution to the energy demands of artificial intelligence. The company uses logic-based techniques, including propositional logic, binarisation, and Tsetlin machines, to build AI models that are faster and more energy-efficient than traditional neural networks. Literal Labs claims its approach reduces energy consumption by 52 times and accelerates inference speeds by up to 250 times. Crucially, its AI systems operate on the edge, eliminating the need for cloud connectivity or data centres. Founded in 2023 by Alex Yakovlev and Rashid Shafik, with support from Cambridge Future Tech, the company appointed former Arm executive Noel Hurley as CEO. In May, it raised £4.6 million in pre-seed funding from Northern Gritstone, Mercuri, Sure Valley Ventures, and Cambridge Future Tech. The spinout exemplifies how England universities are contributing to sustainable computing through innovative technology and university research.

Addressing environmental concerns, Pazul, a spinout from Cranfield University, the UK’s only postgraduate-only academic institution, has developed an electrochemical phosphate sensor for water quality monitoring. The system delivers results within two to four minutes without requiring chemicals or sample preparation, making it faster and cheaper than conventional methods. Applications include monitoring river water, assessing wastewater discharge, and analysing feedstocks in industries such as food, beverages, dairy, and metal processing. Although Pazul was founded in 2024, it has yet to raise venture capital. Nonetheless, its relevance is growing amid increasing scrutiny of UK sewerage infrastructure and pollution, highlighting the role of university spinouts in addressing public health and environmental challenges.

Finally, Dew Point Systems, a spinout from the University of Hull, has developed an evaporative cooling system for data centres. The technology lowers air temperature to the dew point, delivering non-humidified air below the wet bulb temperature while using less water than traditional methods. A 100kW prototype built by Hull researchers demonstrated a coefficient of performance of up to 30, far exceeding the industry standard of 2–3. Testing at Hull City Council’s data centre showed significant savings in electricity costs and carbon emissions. Supported by Cambridge Future Tech, the venture reflects how UK universities are driving sustainable infrastructure innovation through technology and innovation labs. Together, these ventures illustrate how university spinouts from across the UK are reshaping industries and expanding the reach of academic research, proving that innovation thrives well beyond the traditional centres of excellence.

Editor’s Note

A new direction in UK higher education demonstrates that innovation is no longer exclusive to elite universities. Experts from universities nationwide are dedicated to addressing pressing global challenges with practical, science-driven solutions, as evidenced by spinouts from regional and specialist institutions across the country. At the University of Bath, bacteria’s soil-powered electricity offers a low-cost, renewable energy source, especially useful for farming and remote monitoring. In a world facing energy insecurity and climate change, such technologies could help reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Furthermore, Southampton’s satellite software spinout is already preparing for the transition to 6G, intending to extend reliable connectivity to even the most remote regions. As digital access becomes increasingly fundamental to education, healthcare, and employment, such infrastructure is set to play a critical role in advancing global inclusion. The prospect of universal coverage suggests that the world is moving closer to an era where seamless digital connectivity links communities across every continent, creating a truly interconnected global network.

Moreover, Roslin Technologies, from Edinburgh, is developing stem cells for lab-grown meat, offering a way to produce food without harming animals or the environment. With rising concerns about food security, antibiotic use, and carbon emissions, this innovation could reshape how we feed the world. At Newcastle, Literal Labs is developing AI systems that consume far less energy and operate independently of cloud access. With the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, reducing its environmental footprint is becoming a priority, and this work illustrates how universities can take the lead in sustainable computing. Equally, Cranfield’s spinout Pazul, is tackling the urgent issue of water pollution. Its low-cost, rapid sensor technology offers a way to monitor phosphate levels in rivers, wastewater, and industrial processes without the need for chemicals or complex preparation. At a time when concerns over the health of UK rivers and underinvestment in sewerage systems are mounting, such solutions could prove vital for ensuring cleaner water and safeguarding public health. Meanwhile, the University of Hull’s Dew Point Systems is focusing on the environmental impact of digital infrastructure. Its innovative cooling technology for data centres reduces both electricity use and water consumption, addressing the growing energy demands of expanding digital services. By improving efficiency while cutting carbon emissions, the technology demonstrates the importance of rethinking infrastructure for a greener digital economy.

Skoobuzz believes that together, these spinouts highlight how universities across the UK are not only centres of research but also drivers of practical solutions to environmental and technological challenges.