Significant funding injection bolsters Northern Accelerator partnership

Having revolutionized research commercialization in the North East of England and North Yorkshire, the significance of the Northern Accelerator partnership has garnered additional substantial funding at both regional and national levels.

The consortium, comprising Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Teesside, Sunderland, and York universities, has successfully secured an extra £4.3 million from two distinct funding sources. This infusion of resources aims to expand their support and foster the growth of more successful businesses in critical sectors.

In 2016, the Northern Accelerator partnership embarked on a mission to accelerate the pace at which universities in the North East could translate their research discoveries into commercial products and services, ultimately making a notable social and economic impact.

This pioneering program introduced a variety of support measures to enhance the prospects of success for spinout businesses. In just a few years, it has completely transformed the university innovation landscape, giving rise to 47 businesses and projecting to contribute over £123 million in additional Gross Value Added (GVA) to the region’s economy over a decade.

Recognizing the pivotal role this initiative plays in bolstering the North East’s economy, the North of Tyne Combined Authority and Durham County Council have allocated £2.79 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Funding to continue implementing Northern Accelerator’s research-commercialization model at Durham, Newcastle, and Northumbria Universities through the InTune project.

Additionally, Research England recently unveiled an extra £1.5 million in Connecting Capability Funding for the entire six-university partnership. This funding will enable them to pilot fresh initiatives alongside their well-established offerings, testing novel interventions and additional support programs.

Today, the Northern Accelerator universities boast a robust pipeline of innovative commercial opportunities, spawning spinout businesses across various sectors, from cancer-fighting drugs to carbon-negative construction materials. The majority of these enterprises are headquartered in the North East and North Yorkshire, thus generating high-value employment opportunities in the region.

The Northern Accelerator universities will collaborate with partner organizations in pivotal sectors, proactively developing solutions to vital challenges while ensuring that new businesses are seamlessly integrated into the North’s innovation ecosystem.

Working in tandem with partners in the digital sector, achieving net zero emissions, advancing cancer research, and pharmaceuticals, focused challenge events will explore avenues for enhanced collaboration and industry engagement in the realm of innovation.

In a blog announcing the new CCF Awards, Dame Jessica Corner said: “These allocations will provide funding to reinforce the critical innovation ecosystem building that is already playing a vital part in levelling up, and to contribute to technology sector developments. Projects here address a range of technologies, and an impressive set of university and private partner collaborations.”

Speaking about the impact of the university collaboration, Professor Karen O’Brien, Vice-Chancellor and Warden of Durham University said: “Universities in the North East of England have a strong track record of collaboration on initiatives that positively impact economic development.

“Northern Accelerator has contributed greatly to the ‘innovation ecosystem’ over the last five years. This significant funding ensures we can build on a successful programme that benefits our regional and national economy.”