University of Wolverhampton joins initiative to drive innovation across the Midlands

The collaborative effort, involving the University of Wolverhampton and 14 other Midlands university partners, will revolutionise how research and innovation are translated into real-world impact throughout the region.

'Forging Ahead’ - led by Loughborough University and Midlands Innovation - will radically enhance the commercialisation ecosystem, supercharging entrepreneurial activity, scaling innovation, and creating dynamic new pathways for academic ideas to become high-growth ventures.

The bold five-year programme aims to reshape knowledge exchange, business creation, and investment attraction across the Midlands, unlocking the region’s significant research and innovation strengths and converting them into commercial successes. 

By strengthening networks, building capacity, and supporting diverse talent, the initiative will look to drive inclusive economic growth and ensure innovation benefits communities throughout the region.

In its initial phase, ‘Forging Ahead’ will focus on launching and expanding initiatives to cultivate entrepreneurial talent, enhance investment readiness and embed a culture of innovation within and beyond universities. It will scale proven models and pilot novel approaches that make commercialisation more accessible, inclusive and impactful. 

The second phase will deliver targeted interventions to accelerate innovation in strategically important sectors including advanced manufacturing, creative and digital, health and med tech, and net zero to help establish the Midlands as a national leader for mission-driven innovation and support regional economic growth and national prosperity.

The initiative is supported by £9.9 million from Research England’s Connecting Capability Fund, alongside an additional £6.1 million in matched funding from the partner universities and regional stakeholders. 

Ceri Jones, director of research and enterprise at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “The partnership will help underpin our exciting and ambitious plans for commercialisation and technology transfer activity in alignment with our 2035 strategic vision. 

"The development of a vibrant pipeline of spin out companies is crucial for both the University’s impact and the prosperity of The Black Country and the wider Midlands region. We are looking forward to building on our excellent partnerships with Universities, investors and businesses from across the region to catalyse our world class research and enterprise."

The initiative will tackle existing challenges in the Midlands’ innovation landscape by establishing a regional talent pool, scaling successful accelerators, promoting inward investment, and supporting innovation networks and priority sectors to help strengthen the region’s innovation and commercialisation ecosystem, attract IP-rich spinouts and high-growth firms, ultimately driving economic growth and supporting the UK’s industrial strategy. 

It also aims to create a lasting legacy of collaboration between universities, spinout founders, and public and private sector partners, ensuring long-term support for innovation-led growth and positioning the Midlands as a globally competitive hub for enterprise and research commercialisation.

UK Science Minister, Lord Vallance, who highlighted the initiative on a visit to the Midlands on May 9, said: “The Midlands has been a bustling hub of innovation ever since the Industrial Revolution, and still is now – boasting diverse strengths from the creative industries, to health, and clean energy. The support and guidance we are announcing today will help draw out the game-changing ideas of this thriving region’s many researchers and scientists and transform them into the next generation of businesses that will draw in investment, create jobs and deliver growth, all supporting our Plan for Change.”