Important Information

The role of UMIP is to commercialise the output from the scientific and academic research work at The University of Manchester.

However, UMIP is occasionally approached by external entrepreneurs for help in commercialisation of an idea. In most cases UMIP finds that it is not the most suitable organisation to assist in external projects. The reasons are often as follows:

1. The ideas are frequently for products directly for end consumer useage - this is not a strength area for UMIP as almost all of its experience centres around technologies that are marketed into industry rather than consumers.
2. The ideas frequently have no possible patent position. UMIP's expertise centres around protectable intellectual property (including patents) and its equity funder contacts all specialise in investments in intellectual property based projects.
3. There is little or no synergy with the specific research activities at the University. Individual university academics are funded to research very specific technology areas and to advance the depth of understanding in their specific area, so unless an external innovation is closely aligned with these objectives, then it is very difficult for the University to contribute.

There are however some generic aspects of UMIP's activities that are relevant to the commercialisation of any idea. We have therefore compiled this part of the web site as a guide for external entrepreneurs, including some suggestions of organisations that are more appropriate to directly help. These pages are for information only and shouldn't be regarded as legal advice. All information was correct at time of writing.