Southampton’s role in driving innovation in the UK has been underlined in a new report which named the University as one of the best for spinout companies.
Figures from the Royal Academy of Engineering ranked the University of Southampton among the country’s top 20 for launching startups.
Since 2011, the Russell Group member has launched 43 spinouts – companies which are formed out of academic or scientific work undertaken at the institution.
In the last five years alone, spinouts working with the University’s start up accelerator Future Worlds have raised more than £78m and created nearly 400 jobs, said its director Ben Clark.
The programme currently supports around 120 staff and students each year to turn their research into commercial businesses.
Future Worlds director Ben added: “The commercial potential of pioneering research in university labs is maximised by enabling brilliant scientists and engineers to do what they do best: problem-solving and solution-building.
“By embracing the talent and vision of spinout founders here at the University, we’re seeing Southampton’s tech startups make a real impact on the UK economy – and world-leading contribution to innovation.”
According to the Royal Academy of Engineering report, out this week, spinouts from UK universities secured £2.6billion worth of funding in 2024.
The University of Southampton has been supporting spinouts for more than two decades and, since 2000, has seen nearly 90 businesses launched in that time.
Many of these are supported through its Future Worlds accelerator, which provides business space, access to funding and mentor schemes.
Among its recent successes is tech company ViridiCO2 , which has developed a way of capturing waste carbon dioxide – before it is released into the atmosphere – and converting it into surfactants used in household products and even to make shoes.
Aerospace spinout OhmSpace , also launched from the University, is working on an electric thruster for long-distance spacecraft to land on Mars or far-off asteroids.
Professor Mark Spearing , Vice President of Research and Enterprise at the University of Southampton, said: “Innovation sits at the very heart of what we do here.
“For years we have encouraged our academics and students to take their research from an idea through to reality through spinouts – and some of these are not only changing the world but improving people’s lives for the better.
“University spinouts fuel innovation which drives economic growth across the UK and I am delighted that our hard work has been rightfully recognised by the Royal Academy of Engineering.”
In an independent economic report in 2022, the University was estimated to contribute £4billion to the UK economy every year, with approximately £1.6billion occurring in the south east.
For more about the Royal Academy of Engineering report at raeng.org.uk .
Or read more about University of Southampton spinouts and start-ups at futureworlds.com .
