West Midlands Universities forge a new path for innovation with DigiSpin WM

The University of Wolverhampton, in partnership with Coventry University, and Birmingham City University, has secured significant funding from Research England to launch a groundbreaking initiative that will redefine how universities translate research into thriving businesses.

This collaborative effort, known as DigiSpin WM, will focus specifically on the advanced manufacturing and digital innovation sectors within the West Midlands Investment Zone. As part of the West Midlands Combined Universities (WMCU), these universities are committed to driving economic growth and innovation across the region.

This 6-month pilot program, set to launch in November 2024, will create a dynamic ecosystem where innovation flourishes and spin-out companies thrive. DigiSpin WM is poised to become a national blueprint, empowering universities across the UK to accelerate the commercialisation of their research and drive economic growth.

A new era for University spin-outs

The West Midlands is a hotbed of research talent, but groundbreaking discoveries often struggle to break free from university labs and reach their full commercial potential. DigiSpin WM is about to change that.

Imagine a researcher developing a revolutionary new advanced manufacturing process with the potential to transform an industry. With DigiSpin WM, they'll have access to the expert guidance, streamlined processes, and crucial resources needed to turn their idea into a thriving business, creating jobs and boosting the regional economy.

The DigiSpin WM formula

DigiSpin WM is tackling the common challenges that hinder university spin-outs head-on:

• Fast-track to Market: Streamlining the process of turning research into a commercial product or service.
• Intellectual Property Protection: Expert guidance on securing and managing intellectual property rights.
• Investor Ready: Developing strong business plans and attracting investment.
• Collaboration Power: Connecting with industry partners and sharing knowledge to boost innovation.

A catalyst for growth, today and tomorrow

The impact of DigiSpin WM extends far beyond the individual researcher. It's about creating a ripple effect that benefits the entire region and paves the way for a new era of university innovation across the UK:

• More Spin-outs: Helping researchers launch successful businesses based on their discoveries, both within the West Midlands and beyond as the model expands.
• Economic Boost: Creating new jobs and driving growth in the West Midlands, with the potential to stimulate economic development in other regions as the initiative is adopted more widely.
• Stronger Networks: Connecting universities and industry to boost innovation, fostering a collaborative ecosystem that can be replicated across the country.
• Attracting Investment: Making the West Midlands a hotbed for investors seeking cutting-edge technology, and ultimately positioning the UK as a global leader in university spin-out success.

What the architects of change have to say

Ceri Jones, Director of Research & Enterprise at the University of Wolverhampton, said: "This is a significant opportunity for the University of Wolverhampton to accelerate our work within the sphere of academic entrepreneurship, technology transfer and commercialisation.  There is a considerable and growing appetite across our academic community to enthusiastically engage with the commercialisation agenda to ensure that we deliver impactful outcomes from our research.  The added dimension to this specific opportunity is that we have the scope to develop our approach to commercialisation with our WMCU partners, Coventry University and Birmingham City University, thus enabling us the platform to build on best practice related to technology transfer." 

This sentiment is shared by other key instrumental figures who are championing DigiSpin WM:

• "DigiSpin WM represents a new era of collaboration across universities in the West Midlands," says Albi Lamaj, IP Associate Director at Coventry University. "I'm incredibly excited to be working with Birmingham City University and the University of Wolverhampton to combine our efforts and build a future where innovation can flourish, and technology can reach the market with greater speed and efficiency.” Albi is particularly excited about the potential for this initiative to empower researchers and drive economic growth in the region, especially by incorporating best practices from the USIT Guide to streamline spin-out and investment processes.

• Wayne Langford, Director of West Midlands Combined Universities, highlights the regional impact: “This partnership demonstrates our region's unwavering commitment to innovation and economic growth. DigiSpin WM will be instrumental in ensuring that our universities' groundbreaking research translates into tangible outcomes, benefiting both the local economy and the global market.”
• Professor John Latham CBE, Vice-Chancellor and CEO of Coventry University, emphasizes the long-term vision: “DigiSpin WM will leave a lasting legacy on the advanced manufacturing sector, not only by helping universities spin out their technologies but also by ensuring these innovations contribute to the long-term prosperity of the West Midlands.”

A new model for collaborative technology transfer

This Research England-funded pilot program seeks to answer a critical question: can technology transfer offices (TTOs) be effectively shared across universities? DigiSpin WM will explore this question by establishing a collaborative model for Coventry University, Birmingham City University, and the University of Wolverhampton.

Recognising that each university has its own unique strengths and established processes, DigiSpin WM aims to complement and enhance these existing capabilities through knowledge sharing, streamlined processes, and a focus on collaborative innovation.

Over the next 6 months, the pilot will not only investigate the feasibility of a shared TTO model but also explore its potential to create a scalable and replicable framework for universities across the UK. This collaborative approach seeks to empower universities to maximise their impact and contribute to economic growth through successful spin-out creation.