DeepTech and life sciences investment and venture building company Northern Gritstone has agreed a multi-year partnership agreement with the University of Liverpool.
The partnership, which gives the Manchester-based firm preferred investor status, will see it work with the university to improve the success of its spinout activities through investment, as well as through venture building services provided by NG Innovation Services.
The university is one of the UK’s leading research-intensive higher education institutions, with annual research income of £16m.
Over the past six years, its commercialisation team has supported the formation of 24 spinouts, including PhenUtest, which tackles antimicrobial resistance, and ReNewVax, which is developing next-generation vaccines.
The partnership includes the option for the University’s most promising spinouts to access the NG Studios venture building accelerator programmes, which has already seen its inaugural tech cohort raise £15 million.
Liverpool is the fourth university to partner with Northern Gritstone, who won BusinessCloud’s Northern Leaders Investor Award, after Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield, creating a ‘Northern arc’ of IP-rich early-stage investment opportunities.
“Liverpool is home to some of the most incredible advances in MedTech, biosciences and advanced materials,” said Duncan Johnson, chief executive of Northern Gritstone.
“We are delighted to partner with the university to invest in and support its spinout development. Liverpool’s addition to our university partnerships is part of our belief in world-class innovation in the North of England and the opportunities this creates for the region.”
Professor Tim Jones, vice-chancellor, University of Liverpool, added: “Our partnership with Northern Gritstone forms part of the significant work we’re doing in the Liverpool City Region.
“It reflects the University of Liverpool’s commitment to research with real-world impact—supporting the Liverpool City Region’s Innovation Zone and unlocking investment, jobs, and progress in key areas like infection control, advanced materials, AI, maritime, and Net Zero. We look forward to a long and successful relationship.”