Planning for Manchester as a centre for inclusive innovation
A panel chaired by Elvira Uyarra, Professor of Innovation Studies at Alliance Manchester Business School and Executive Director of the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, asked how the University’s ambition for Europe’s most inclusive innovation ecosystem might translate into delivery. Dr Julian Skyrme, Executive Director of Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement, framed inclusion around three questions—innovation for whom, by whom, and how—arguing that affected communities must help shape decisions.
Professor Johannes Glückler (University of Munich) urged Manchester to build relationships between currently disconnected sectors, citing Coventry’s linking of automotive and gaming clusters. Professor Meric Gertler (University of Toronto) said research excellence alone does not guarantee local benefit, but universities can deliberately change that, backed by “local, patient” capital.
Lisa Dale-Clough, Director Economy at Greater Manchester Combined Authority, highlighted the Atom Valley innovation district in Rochdale and said inclusive innovation must improve job quality and solve local problems.
Manchester’s impact in early-stage ventures
From life sciences spinouts to next-generation diagnostics, innovators at the Festival shared what it takes to turn promising research into real-world solutions. Dr Alexander Stokes, a founder of Imprinted Diagnostics, described his mission to build a portable blood-testing platform based on innovative molecular imprinted polymer technology. He’s grown the company from a two-person team to a wider network of 30 collaborators and is now looking to the US for investors. Professor Sam Butterworth (Apini Therapeutics) highlighted how University support, translational funding and investor backing helped transform early-stage research into a multimillion-pound venture now advancing towards clinical trials. Across the session, speakers emphasised the importance of collaboration, persistence and learning from setbacks. As Matt Scullion, founder of Manchester AI and data unicorn Matillion, reflected: “We’ve got this deep reservoir of academic and scientific expertise here… I think we can figure out ways to put it together and build the consequential companies of tomorrow better.”
Announcements and developments
- The University of Manchester is launching a £10m Founders Fund to provide crucial pre-seed investment for the next generation of entrepreneurs. Read the full story.
Coming up
Students at Manchester won’t want to miss Tuesday’s MEC Ideas Unlocked event, 10:00-16:00, The Atrium, University Place. Find out more → https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ideas-unlocked-tickets-1994566716742
Join one of Tuesday’s fringe sessions, including a panel session “Building companies that are rooted in the North but Global in mindset” sponsored by Northern Gritstone, 10:15-12:00, Whitworth Art Gallery. Reserve your spot → https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/building-companies-that-are-rooted-in-the-north-but-global-in-mindset-tickets-1999374881091
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