Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC) has announced a commitment of at least £100 million to invest in spinout companies from the University of Cambridge. The move is part of CIC’s broader strategy to support early-stage deep tech and life sciences ventures emerging from the university.
The new investment comes alongside several recent initiatives by the University of Cambridge aimed at fostering entrepreneurship among its academics. These include plans for significant high-tech development at Cambridge West and the establishment of an Innovation Hub in central Cambridge designed to host spinouts, startups, and entrepreneurs.
Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Innovation at the University of Cambridge, commented on the announcement: “In 2024, the University of Cambridge created more spinout companies than any other university. It has also produced the most unicorns of any European ecosystem and generates £23 billion in economic interest linked to research and commercialisation each year.”
As part of this funding effort, CIC is launching a new Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) programme in partnership with the university. The programme aims to connect experienced deep tech and life sciences executives with academic founders to help commercialise intellectual property developed within the university. Up to six EIRs will participate at any one time.
This initiative builds on existing efforts by Cambridge Enterprise, which has launched programmes such as Founders—supporting company creation—and established funds like the Technology Investment Fund (TIF) and an expanded Cambridge Enterprise Ventures fund. These resources are intended to help de-risk research projects and accelerate their path toward market readiness.
“We are determined to do even more, and faster, through initiatives such as the new EIR programme and by attracting investment into our spinout companies working with partners like Cambridge Innovation Capital,” Dr O’Brien added.
The £100 million commitment forms part of CIC’s Fund III, a £250 million early-stage venture fund focused on supporting innovation within the Cambridge ecosystem. Companies participating in the EIR programme will be able to access this funding from inception through proof-of-concept stages up to early growth phases.
Andrew Williamson, Managing Partner at CIC, said: “Cambridge is at the forefront of innovation in deep tech and life sciences. Our new EIR programme will provide academics and researchers with access to the £100m we are committing to University of Cambridge spinouts as they continue to develop breakthrough technologies. This expansion of CIC’s long-standing partnership with the University of Cambridge, which provides unique access to the university’s academics and research, will help support the UK’s economic growth by developing the next generation of world-class companies.”