Warwick Ventures was created in April 2000 to build on the research successes of the University of Warwick. Since then we have created over 60 spin-out companies with a combined annual turnover over of around £10m.

It is our responsibility to ensure that the intellectual property that is the result of the University's annual research spend – some £120 million - is properly protected and commercialised for the benefit of the academics, the University, the region and, indeed, the nation.

The University has over 1,450 academic and research staff, working within its research departments, which have received consistently high research ratings. Our activity is concentrated in applied areas including Medicine, Life Sciences, Computing, Engineering, Chemistry and Physics. The University also benefits from the world-renowned Warwick Manufacturing Group, which works closely with manufacturing companies to implement innovative engineering techniques and technologies.

Day to day Warwick Ventures undertakes audits to assess innovations across the university; funds patent applications for protection of our IP, (costing about £200k p.a.); undertakes market research to define the markets; produces business plans; raises investment funds and development grants; and provides interim management to support spin-offs. Typically we target investors for £150-500k and to date have succeeded in raising over £22m from business angels and venture capitalists. This money has contributed to a portfolio of over 80 patents, (awarded and pending), which have led to over 80 license deals for the University, either on an exclusive or non-exclusive basis.

Where appropriate we will form spin-off companies or draw-up licensing agreements to maximise the return on the intellectual property. To this end we network with a large number of business angels, non-executive directors and trade partners who might wish to work with these companies. The staff of Warwick Ventures have a variety of expertise in the commercialisation of technology, and we have specialists within a wide range of academic disciplines.