University of Manchester Innovation Factory

Offers commercialization and innovation support through research infrastructure, entrepreneurship guidance, and startup pathways.

The University of Manchester Innovation Factory (formerly UMI3 / UMIP) is the University of Manchester's wholly-owned technology-transfer office (TTO). Its core mission is to commercialise intellectual property created at the University through spinout formation and licensing deals. It works with academic and student inventors to identify commercially viable research, then translates discoveries into licensable products or equity-backed spinout companies. Access to innovations is created via technology licensing or formation of new spinout companies. The Innovation Factory does not run open competitive grant calls for external applicants. Engagement is invention-disclosure-driven: researchers disclose inventions through an internal pathway, and the Innovation Factory then arranges equity capital from third-party partners (IP Group, Northern Gritstone, Parkwalk Advisors).