Creating impact through enterprise

OUTSTANDING ENTREPRENEURIAL UNIVERSITY OF THE YEAR THE TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION AWARDS 2019

AWARDED 5* FOR INNOVATION INTERNATIONAL QS STARS SCHEME 2020

Enterprise is at the heart of the University’s activities, enhancing the student experience, developing entrepreneurial skills, creating impact from research, and driving regional prosperity through Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park (LUSEP) and economic development partnerships.

Driving regional prosperity

The University, as a regional anchor institution, engages with its local areas in the East Midlands and East London, to drive growth and regeneration, which often leads to significant national economic impact. On our East Midlands campus, LUSEP is now home to over 90 companies, ranging from graduate start-ups and University spinouts to global technology and research and development firms. Recent developments on LUSEP include: • a 109,000 sq ft flagship office for leading business management software provider The Access Group. • The National Centre for Combustion and Aerothermal

Technology – a magnet for low emission aerospace engineering. • a forthcoming expansion to SportPark, fuelling the ambition for Loughborough to be at the heart of a global sports innovation hub. • The launch of LU Inc. the University’s business incubator, which brings together academic and graduate entrepreneurs with founders from across the region.

The University is involved in several other key initiatives in the region, including: • A Careers and Enterprise Hub in Loughborough town centre, a partnership with Loughborough College and Charnwood

Borough Council to help people develop their skills and boost the local and regional economy as it bounces back from the impact of the pandemic. • Based on our work with the Massachusetts Institute of

Technology Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (MIT REAP), we are working closely with the Leicester and

Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership and other partners, to accelerate economic growth and job creation through innovation-driven entrepreneurship.

Spinout company success

We have prioritised commercialisation of research in recent years, building on our track record of protecting and exploiting intellectual property to maximise economic, social and cultural impact. This is reinforced by the achievements of the University’s recent spinouts, all of which have attracted significant external investment: Previsico has been on a fast track since spinning out of environmental geography research in 2019 to deliver the very latest third generation flood forecasting technology to those who need it most. Zayndu was spun out of bioelectrics research in 2019 to launch the world’s first ‘activated air’ seed sterilisation system, providing a sustainable alternative to chemical treatment or washing. Figura Analytics was spun out of chemistry research in 2021, to develop its rapid testing technology platform aimed at helping the drinks industry to improve quality and consistency of ingredients and finished products.

Impact through knowledge exchange

The University partners business, public and voluntary organisations to drive innovation and their growth potential, through knowledge exchange. For example, during a two-year partnership with Trelleborg Applied Technologies, we addressed the problem of wind turbine radar interference, and developed a technology that will allow wind farms to be built closer to airports, military bases and weather stations that rely on radar – supporting the progress of sustainable energy generation.

Graduate enterprise

The Loughborough Enterprise Network supports students and graduates at every stage of their enterprise journey. In addition to opportunities to develop their entrepreneurial mindset, we also provide skills training, funding and the workspaces they need to get their businesses started. In 2020, Alcuris, a telecare company founded by engineering graduate Alex Nash, was selected for Techforce 19 – an NHS and government-led initiative to find digital solutions to support the vulnerable during the pandemic. Alex established Alcuris at LUSEP in 2016 to launch MemoHub®, one of the most advanced social alarms in the UK, which has been adopted by many local authorities.

For more on business and enterprise at Loughborough visit:

www.lboro.ac.uk/enterprise www.lusep.co.uk

@lboroenterprise