Flagship university partnership to scale ‘green’ academic spin-outs to market

A new initiative has been launched to bridge the gap between Liverpool academic spin-outs and high growth commercial ventures.

Sustainable Ventures, Europe’s leading growth partner focused on climate tech, has partnered with the University of Liverpool to launch the Sustainable Futures Accelerator, a two month programme designed to help pioneering climate tech spin-outs to scale their innovations.

Sustainable Ventures has supported more than 850 climate tech start-ups, raising £1.1bn in equity funding, and creating in excess of 6,000 green jobs to date.

The accelerator has been co-designed by the University of Liverpool’s Enterprise Team, and sponsored by the Sir Peter Rigby Centre for Enterprise at the University.

It will provide tailored support to four University of Liverpool spin-outs to help them refine their business models, secure investment, and build connections with industry leaders through Sustainable Ventures’ extensive network of entrepreneurs, investors and corporate partners.

The accelerator’s first cohort includes four innovative UoL spin-outs:

• Plasma Fresh: Revolutionising food preservation with a technology that extends freshness while reducing waste.
• Atomik AM: Pioneering the development of advanced materials to improve sustainability in manufacturing.
• Robotiz3d: Using cutting-edge AI to transform road maintenance, making it more efficient, cost effective, and environmentally friendly.
• Apoello: Developing a modern digital discovery platform for organic electronic materials.

The partnership represents a significant step towards the development of  Liverpool as a leading hub for climate and materials technology.

By connecting academic innovation with industry expertise, the university and Sustainable Ventures aim to advance the societal and economic impact of university-led innovation, by attracting investment and fostering collaboration.

Andrew Wordsworth, co-founder of Sustainable Ventures, said: “Liverpool has all the ingredients to become a world class climate tech hub, and this programme is the first step toward realising that potential. The passion and ingenuity of the cohort are inspiring, and we’re excited to support their journey in scaling solutions that will help combat the climate crisis.”

Dr  Thomas Pugh, head of Science and Engineering, University of Liverpool Enterprise Team, said: “This partnership marks another significant step forward for the University of Liverpool’s Academic Enterprise.

“Building on our strong foundation of research excellence and combined with Sustainable Ventures’ proven track record in scaling climate tech, we are confident this accelerator will drive impactful, long lasting change.

“Together, we aim to further cement  the Liverpool City Region’s position as a leading hub for sustainability, future materials, and climate technology.”

The project will be showcased at a university-led event during the Liverpool City Region’s Innovation Investment Fortnight, a major annual showcase of pioneering partnerships and £2bn investment opportunities.