"Translating research into economic and societal benefit and positive impact."
23 Sep 2026
From healthcare and quantum computing to sustainable manufacturing and accessible technologies, our latest spinouts are Manchester 2035 in action.
The University of Manchester Innovation Factory has marked a significant year for research commercialisation, supporting the launch of 11 new spinout companies that are translating our research into products, technologies and services with the potential to improve lives, support industry and address global challenges.
The new companies span a wide range of disciplines and showcase the breadth of innovation taking place across the University, from pioneering healthcare technologies and sustainable materials to artificial intelligence, clean energy and quantum computing. Together, they demonstrate how Manchester research is creating benefits far beyond academia – and contributing to our Manchester 2035 strategy, specifically our upcoming Innovation Delivery Plan.
The plan will be launched next month, which will also see our Innovation Festival (Monday, 5 to Friday, 9 October) showcasing some exciting commercialisation opportunities and sharing the experiences behind building a successful spinout. This includes the Manchester to Market event on Wednesday, 7 October, a lively expo-style event bringing together founders, researchers, PhD students, and commercialisation experts and featuring a dedicated learning zone and Innovation Factory breakout space for one-to-one conversations, practical information and highlights of clear routes from academic discovery to real-world impact.
“Commercialisation is an important part of translating research into wider economic and societal benefit and positive impact,” Vice-President for Innovation and Civic Engagement, Professor John Holden said.
“These results show the value of the rich innovation ecosystem that we are establishing in Manchester and the expertise within the Innovation Factory allows us to support our researchers from the earliest stages.”
The new spinouts are:
- Grid Stability Ltd, building AI-driven stability assessment tools for modern power systems, reducing cost and carbon while improving stability.
- Lutèo Medical Ltd, developing new clinical eczema solutions based on microbiome science.
- SpinOr Ltd, pioneering a compact and modular superconducting quantum computer design.
- Imprinted Diagnostics Ltd, developing rapid diagnostics, with its first product focused on heart attack triage.
- ColoriQuo Ltd, developing sustainable structural colour technologies inspired by nature.
- FLAG-Me SAFE Ltd, creating digital safeguarding tools to help pharmacies better support people with sight and hearing impairments.
- Pacentrica Ltd, creating digital technologies for pain assessment and long-term pain management.
- Precica Ltd, developing technology to significantly reduce data storage requirements while keeping information searchable and accessible.
- InformiX Pharma Ltd, using advanced three-dimensional imaging to improve the development and manufacture of medicines.
- Zenithym Ltd, commercialising semiconducting polymer nanoparticles for a range of industrial and medical applications.
- C3 Biotechnologies Ltd, converting industrial waste streams into sustainable chemicals and high-value products.
Turning your discoveries into impact
Our dedicated technology transfer office, Innovation Factory works with researchers to identify opportunities for their discoveries to make a wider impact. This includes helping colleagues protect intellectual property, explore commercial opportunities and develop new ventures that bring research closer to the people and organisations who can benefit from it.
The growth in spinout activity reflects increasing engagement from researchers across the University. During 2025/26, the Innovation Factory supported more than 300 researchers in exploring ways to maximise the impact of their work, representing its highest level of researcher engagement in five years.
In addition, it has delivered incredibly strong results in the 25/26 financial year, securing over £56m of investment into its full portfolio of 82 spinout companies, now valued at over £500m.
Dr Catherine Headley, CEO of the Innovation Factory, said: “This has been an incredible year for the Innovation Factory and the results reflect the breadth and quality of innovation emerging from across the University, the strength of our spinout portfolio, and the quality of service that we provide.
“We are extremely proud of the progress that we have made this year as we build the foundations to play a key role in the University's innovation plans.”
A growing innovation ecosystem
The Innovation Factory’s work is increasingly enhanced by a wider innovation ecosystem across the University and Greater Manchester.
As well as support from the Innovation Factory, staff, students and alumni can benefit from varied University specialist services and programmes including Unit M, Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange and the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, alongside initiatives such as Ideas with Impact, developed by the University’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations.
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To find out more about our celebration of innovation across our university and explore how new ideas, partnerships and funding routes can strengthen research, teaching, knowledge exchange and real-world impact visit: