NCUB celebrates launch of UK Spin-out Register, supporting stronger innovation insights

The National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB) celebrates today’s launch of a world-first – a comprehensive Spin-out Register.

The register is an important development providing robust and transparent data on all UK university spinouts which has been developed by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) in collaboration with the University Commercialisation and Innovation Policy Unit (UCI-University of Cambridge) and Research England. 

This landmark dataset offers a world-leading official national register of all university spin-outs across the UK, providing a new level of transparency and enabling deeper, more robust analysis of university-led innovation. 

NCUB Chief Executive Dr Joe Marshall said:
“For too long the lack of information on university spinouts has caused myths and misconceptions which have often led to unsubstantiated comparisons within and beyond the UK. The new register is a crucial step forward for the UK’s innovation ecosystem providing a greatly enhanced evidence base for founders, investors and university leadership. Importantly it will allow users understand spin-out growth, regional trends, and inter-institutional collaboration. “ 

“Spin-outs play a vital role in transforming cutting-edge research into real-world applications. In 2023/2024, spinouts attracted £4.5 billion in external investment – a remarkable achievement, especially as the UK’s broader high-growth equity market experienced a 19% decline. As the UK strives to be a world leader in science and innovation, university spin-outs are not only commercialising ideas — they’re building high-value companies, creating skilled jobs, and fueling economic growth and societal progress.” 

NCUB is proud to support this milestone and looks forward to using the data to continue strengthening initiatives that help unlock the full potential of the UK’s research and innovation base.