Investment Firm Commits Over £100 Million to University Start-Ups Led By Cambridge Innovation Capital
The University of Cambridge is strengthening its ties with the business world, particularly with Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC), to foster the growth of innovative startups. This long-standing partnership provides unique access to the university's academics and research, opening doors for commercialisation and economic growth.
CIC, a venture capital firm managing over £600 million in capital, invests in a range of TechBio sectors, including cancer therapies, AI, and quantum computing. In a significant move, CIC is investing at least £100 million in spinouts from the University of Cambridge, aiming to leverage the commercial potential of cutting-edge science and technology innovation developed by Cambridge researchers.
The University of Cambridge's strategic partnership with CIC is not just about attracting investment. It's about supporting the UK's economic growth. This partnership is instrumental in creating a conducive environment for the development and commercialisation of groundbreaking research.
One of the key initiatives arising from this partnership is the Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) program. The goal of this program is to identify intellectual property (IP) with commercial potential, support academic founders in building businesses, increase the number of high-quality university spinouts, and accelerate their path to viable commercialization.
The EIR program pairs experienced DeepTech and life sciences executives—many with significant exit experience—with academics and promising IP to de-risk ventures and help transition innovations from research to market-ready companies. The program maintains a rolling cohort of up to six entrepreneurs-in-residence who work closely with academic founders and their IP.
This program complements other university initiatives such as the Founders programme, the Technology Investment Fund (TIF), and increased capital for Cambridge Enterprise Ventures. Together, these initiatives aim to bridge the gap between scientific research and commercialization, facilitating faster proof-of-concept and scaling of high-potential startups emerging from the university ecosystem.
Notable portfolio companies include Riverlane, a quantum computing firm founded by Dr. Steve Brierley, Cambridge GaN Devices (CGD) founded by Dr. Giorgio Longobardo and Professor Florin Udrea, and T-Therapeutics, which harnesses T cells to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases. Cambridge GaN Devices (CGD) has raised over $50 million from various investors.
The University of Cambridge has produced the most unicorns of any European ecosystem and created more spinout companies in 2024 than any other university. This new EIR program is a testament to the university's commitment to doing more and faster in developing world-class companies.
The focus and goal of the Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) program launched by Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC) in partnership with the University of Cambridge are to identify intellectual property (IP) with commercial potential, support academic founders in building businesses, increase the number of high-quality university spinouts, and accelerate their path to viable commercialization.
[1] Cambridge Innovation Capital. (n.d.). Entrepreneur-in-Residence Programme. Retrieved from https://www.cambridgeinnovationcapital.com/eir/ [2] University of Cambridge. (2021, October 28). Cambridge Innovation Capital invests £100m in University of Cambridge spinouts. Retrieved from https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/cambridge-innovation-capital-invests-100m-in-university-of-cambridge-spinouts
The Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) program launched by Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC) in partnership with the University of Cambridge aims to identify intellectual property (IP) with commercial potential and accelerate the path to viable commercialization by supporting academic founders in building businesses. This partnership with CIC also aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and commercialization, facilitating faster proof-of-concept and scaling of high-potential startups. [1] [2]
This strategic partnership between the University of Cambridge and CIC is not just about attracting investment but also about supporting the UK's economic growth and creating a conducive environment for the development and commercialization of groundbreaking education-and-self-development in technology fields like AI, quantum computing, and cancer therapies. [1] [2]
