Research England‑funded VentureVersity recognised for excellence in university IP commercialisation

Increased pressure to demonstrate how real-world impact can be realised from research rather than academic insight is being felt across UK universities. Government funding bodies such as Research England, over the past few years, have focused on encouraging institutions to work even more closely with businesses and communities to make sure that what is developed in laboratories and lecture halls can be transformed into real-world solutions, start-ups and social enterprises.

Within this context, a pioneering programme called VentureVersity provides a model for speeding up the commercialisation of intellectual property and enhancing regional innovation in universities. This initiative, developed in collaboration between DMU, Leicester and Loughborough with support from Leicester Start-Ups, is a finalist for the Knowledge Exchange Awards 2025, thanks to its success in translating research into ventures that benefit the economy and society. Academics were invited to pitch ideas for joining the accelerator, and those selected underwent a well-structured process that incorporated mentoring, commercial expertise and access to investors. Organisers claim that the said acquisition helped the researchers turn their works into viable businesses in terms of manufacturing, health technology and utilities.

After that selection, the 26 project teams taking part were distilled down to 11 finalists for the final accelerator, culminating in a showcase where five spin-out companies from the partner universities' joint research are currently being developed, and others continue along licensing or social enterprise pathways. Altogether, the teams garnered up to £225,000 at the end of the grant activity. The programme also generated a practical toolkit that has been termed a blueprint for the universities across England and Wales.

The toolkit primarily seeks to assist institutions in actualising commercial value from their intellectual property, as well as fortifying regional innovation. VentureVersity is one of the three nationwide shortlisted projects in the Sector Collaboration category of the Knowledge Exchange Awards. The awards are organised by Knowledge Exchange UK to honour excellence in knowledge exchange and innovation across higher education institutions. Winners will be announced on November 27 at The Lowry, Salford. Moreover, the three Leicestershire universities are collaborating through the Universities Partnership, a civic pact introduced in 2022.

This model maximises regional benefits through collaborative effort toward innovation, knowledge exchange, and skills development. VentureVersity has achieved much success, and so has decided to extend this initiative to give way to academics from 15 other Midlands universities through the new Forging Ahead initiative. Also funded by the Research England Connecting Capability Fund, this extension will also upscale four other programmes across the region, including Medici Enterprise Training, SPARK the Midlands, and Innovate UK ICURe.

University leaders voiced the need for collaboration. The programme reflects regional cooperation in building an innovation ecosystem in the Midlands, according to Professor Dan Parsons of Loughborough University. As he states, to be shortlisted for the award is a recognition of and reflects a common vision of growth and impact. Will Wells from Space Park Leicester also stated that the approach in VentureVersity was new and made possible by very close working relationships with local businesses and start-up networks.

He added that there had been considerable demand from researchers and students, with at least five businesses expected to emerge. For his part, Professor Mike Kagioglou of De Montfort University explained that this was how universities can demonstrate partnership with the business world when talking about real-world impact. Indeed, seeing new ventures emerge shows the ambition of DMU researchers and the value of De Montfort University's research commercialisation. Meanwhile, project manager Rajinder Bhuhi congratulated the teams and stated that it was a well-deserved award nomination, as it came from different institutions.

He further explained that with the Forging Ahead initiative, VentureVersity would reach a much broader audience of academics in the Midlands. This will open up more doors to Midlands innovation and enterprise. That sums up the VentureVersity accelerator, illustrating the wider pattern in which DMU turns research into possible start-up companies through VentureVersity and how regional collaboration can drive economic and social benefits. This model sets the stage for UK university research commercialisation Midlands, showing universities can take academic ideas and transform them into business ventures while empowering students with mentoring, funding, and investor access.

Editor's note

UK universities are under greater pressure to demonstrate real effect from research beyond academic insight. VentureVersity responds directly to this challenge by creating a visible, accelerated pathway for the university's ideas to go into market-ready ventures. This is done in a structured programme, which combines mentoring, commercial expertise, and investor access to assist researchers in turning intellectual property into a viable business. Some early indicators point positively towards progress: five spin-out companies currently under development; others emerging from licensing or social enterprise; and £225,000 secured funding. More significantly, VentureVersity also speaks to the other problem: disconnected efforts across institutions. By pulling De Montfort, the University of Leicester and Loughborough University together, in collaboration with Leicester Start-Ups, the programme will advance regional cooperation and build a joint innovation capability. In addition, its practical toolkit provides a template that universities can replicate, thereby making commercialisation more consistent and scalable. The programme, therefore, matches national priorities. National support for the Connecting Capability Fund from Research England is indicative of confidence in its approach, although being shortlisted for the Knowledge Exchange Awards 2025 signals recognition across the sector. Moreover, extension through the Forging Ahead initiative to 15 Midlands universities indicates that this model is ripe for scaling, with benefits expected to reach even more researchers in wider disciplines and different communities.

Skoobuzz underlines that VentureVersity closes some of the key barriers to commercialisation in universities: slow routes to market; limited business capability within research teams; and uneven access to investors. It turns bright ideas into businesses that will serve the economy and society by matching academic strengths with practical support and regional partnerships.

FAQs

Q1. What is VentureVersity?

VentureVersity is a pioneering accelerator programme developed through a DMU–Leicester–Loughborough University collaboration with Leicester Start-Ups. It helps academics transform research and intellectual property into viable businesses.

Q2. Why was VentureVersity created?

The programme was launched to address the growing need for commercialising university intellectual property and to speed up the process of turning academic ideas into start-ups, spin-outs and social enterprises.

Q3. Who funded VentureVersity?

VentureVersity was funded by the Research England Connecting Capability Fund, which supports collaboration and innovation across UK universities.

Q4. How does VentureVersity support academics?

Academics pitched their ideas to join the accelerator. Selected participants received mentoring, commercial expertise and access to investors, enabling them to convert research into businesses in sectors such as manufacturing, health technology and utilities.

Q5. What were the outcomes of the programme?

From 26 project teams, 11 reached the final stage. A showcase event revealed five university spin-out companies DMU and partner institutions are now developing, while others are progressing through licensing or social enterprise routes. Collectively, teams secured £225,000 in funding.

Q6. Did VentureVersity produce resources for other universities?

Yes. The programme created a practical toolkit described as a blueprint for universities across England and Wales, helping them commercialise intellectual property and strengthen regional innovation.

Q7. Has VentureVersity received national recognition?

VentureVersity has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Sector Collaboration category of the Knowledge Exchange Awards 2025, organised by Knowledge Exchange UK. Winners will be announced on 27 November at The Lowry, Salford.

Q8. How are the three Leicestershire universities working together?

The University of Leicester, De Montfort University (DMU) and Loughborough University collaborate under the Universities Partnership, a civic agreement launched in 2022 to maximise regional benefits through innovation, knowledge exchange and skills development.

Q9. What is the Forging Ahead initiative?

Following its success, VentureVersity is being expanded to academics across 15 Midlands universities through Forging Ahead, also funded by the Research England Connecting Capability Fund. This initiative will upscale four programmes: Medici Enterprise Training, SPARK the Midlands, Innovate UK ICURe and VentureVersity.

Q10. What impact has VentureVersity had on the Midlands innovation ecosystem?

University leaders emphasised that VentureVersity demonstrates the power of regional collaboration. It strengthens the innovation ecosystem in the Midlands, builds a pipeline of new ventures and shows how universities can deliver real-world impact through research commercialisation.