Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC) is investing at least £100 million in spinouts from the University of Cambridge, leveraging the commercial potential of its research in science and technology. This initiative supports the university’s plans for four million square feet of high-tech space at Cambridge West, as well as an Innovation Hub in central Cambridge, designed for startups and entrepreneurs.
Alongside this funding, CIC is launching an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) program with the university, designed to identify intellectual property (IP) suitable for commercialization and support academic founders in building their businesses. The EIR program will maintain a rolling cohort of up to six experts, thereby enhancing the number of quality spinouts and accelerating the commercialization process.
CIC’s commitment comes with the launch of Fund III, a £250 million early-stage venture fund focused on the Cambridge ecosystem. Companies formed through the EIR program can access funding to support their development from inception to early-stage growth.
CIC manages over £600 million in capital and invests in a range of TechBio sectors, including cancer therapies, AI, and quantum computing. Notable portfolio companies include Riverlane, a quantum computing firm founded by Dr. Steve Brierley, and T-Therapeutics, which harnesses T cells to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases. Cambridge GaN Devices (CGD), founded by Dr. Giorgio Longobardo and Professor Florin Udrea, designs efficient power conversion devices and has raised over $50 million from various investors.
KEY QUOTES:
“Our new EIR program 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 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.”
Andrew Williamson, Managing Partner, CIC
“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.”
“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. Diarmuid O’Brien, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Innovation at the University of Cambridge
