Newcastle University has launched a new scheme designed to help entrepreneurs, businesses, and investors transform ideas into growing companies. The initiative, named Newcastle Innovations, will serve as a single front door to the university's expertise, talent, funding pathways, and commercial support for those developing business ideas.
Building on Success
The university aims to build on its track record of 42 active spin-out companies, which have attracted over £90 million in investment in the past two years and created more than 370 jobs. Newcastle Innovations is appealing to those looking to co-develop new technologies, access specialist research facilities, commission applied research, invest in high-growth spin-outs, or build skills for the future workforce.
Industry Feedback
Estelle Blanks, director of Newcastle Innovations, said: "From a business perspective, the idea is simple - a clear route into expertise, talent, facilities, and partnerships. We are responding directly to feedback from industry, so that more companies can access our support and expertise to accelerate growth, attract investment and create a skilled workforce."
Prof Jane Robinson, pro-vice-chancellor for business, partnerships and place at Newcastle University, added: "Partnership working is at the heart of what we do. Newcastle Innovations is about removing barriers to turn ideas into impact. We are making it easier for organisations to collaborate with us locally, nationally and internationally, to deliver innovation and growth and tangible benefits for businesses, communities and society."
Partnership Examples
At the launch event, the university highlighted partnerships with a range of businesses, from small firms to global names like Procter & Gamble and Siemens. It also pointed to the National Innovation Centre for Data and Arrow programme, which provides innovation support to SMEs and has delivered productivity gains.
One notable partner is outdoor clothing maker Pentland, owner of the Berghaus brand. The firm used Newcastle University expertise to develop new legwear technology that adapts to women’s bodies for comfort during outdoor activities. Biomechanical modelling and physiological analysis were conducted at the university’s advanced sport and exercise research facilities to refine the final design. Berghaus is now incorporating ZonalAdapt into all of its legwear.
Sam Munson, new product development lead at Pentland Group, said: "Our collaboration with Newcastle University has been a fantastic example of how industry and academia can work together to better solve challenges real people experience in the outdoors. Working with Newcastle University brought a level of scientific rigour and technical expertise that was invaluable to this project, helping us to push our innovation further and better support women as they hike."
