Develop your research
Do you have an idea that you think has commercial potential?
From time to time, the University takes steps to move research, ideas and innovations beyond academia to create an entrepreneurial environment that encourages and rewards the generation of new inventions and knowledge, and to facilitate the transfer of new commercially and socially important inventions and knowledge to society.
Your commercial journey can include various pathways. Choose the most appropriate route:
Spin-outs
We can help you create a spinout based on your protected Intellectual Property, setting up formal companies designed to attract inward investment from business partners and specialist investment groups. We have substantively adopted the best practices of the Independent Review of University Spin-outs. Alongside being the number 1 English HEI for thriving graduate business start-ups, the goal of our Research and Innovation Strategy is to reward academic ambition and celebrate success, we will help you to create your spin-out on the following principles;
- The University will only pursue equity if it has provided financially measurable support through infrastructure, salary, student or researcher support or owns some/ all of the IP.
- Both University and the researchers will be rewarded from commercialisation - ratio of at least 75:25 (normally 90:10) in favour of the researcher(s).
- We take the smallest share required to cover our input costs – capped at 10% normally or 25% for bioscience related companies. No anti-dilution provisions apply.
- License or royalty fees only occur once the product is significantly profitable, and the University does not receive anything until net revenue is above £15,000.
Full details are contained in our consultancy [PDF] and IP policies [PDF], and of course the University's Research & Innovation Service is the first point of contact for businesses and staff seeking to commercialise their work or ideas.
Spin-ins
You can access the University's inventions, research, technologies and facilities to develop a commercial opportunity through a collaborative approach in return for an equity stake. The key criteria for a spin-in opportunity in alignment with the key research objectives of the university, the key themes of the regional industrial strategy and national R&D roadmap [PDF] (Healthy populations, Data and AI, Environmental Sustainability, Future Transport) and an opportunity for collaborative research and integration of the University’s expertise and resources.
Licensing
We commonly license our inventions to existing, successful commercial companies who are already set up with routes to market and customer service provision. Licensing is often the most effective way of managing the transfer of new technologies from the University into industry. Brightyellow, a Bedfordshire-based business client, is now working on an exclusive licensing agreement to integrate University research into their cutting-edge smart cities software.
Consultancy
Through its Consultancy Policy and practices, the University and its academia offer an efficient and effective service to the community creating new jobs or growing the regional or national economy, based on the excellence of its educational and research provision. The Consultancy Policy [PDF] outlined below is intended to support University Consultancy activities to the benefit of any partnerships or collaborations.
Intellectual Property (IP) Protection and Selling
We follow the University IP Policy [PDF], which sets out the IP rights roles and responsibilities of all those working with IP generated by staff and students within the University, and determines how revenue from commercialisation is shared between you, your organisation / department and the University.
Incubation
University incubators have become more of a support for entrepreneurs than other types of incubators. Our Putteridge Bury campus is also the official home to local businesses in the region - including, Luton Astronomical Society (LAS) and the famous Luton Dall Observatory, their offices can be found in the most southerly part of our stunning grounds.
Next steps?
Our Business Partnerships experts will help you explore your options and are embedded in the University's Research & Innovation Service as the first point of contact for businesses and staff seeking to commercialise their work or ideas.
To discuss your next steps, contact the Research & Innovation Service