Technology investor concludes new university partnership deal

Mark Payton, chief executive of Mercia Technologies

Mercia Technologies, the Warwickshire-based investment group focused on fast-growth technology businesses, has signed a new university partnership deal.

The funder specialises in spotting and supporting high potential university spin-outs and has existing agreements which several other universities around the country.

It has now furthered this with a partnership agreement with the University of Edinburgh.

Mercia said the non-exclusive partnership offered it access to Edinburgh Innovations, which has established 189 new spin-out/start-up businesses in the past five years.

Henley-in-Arden based Mercia said it anticipated a significant number of new Scottish investment opportunities as part of the partnership, over the medium term.

Mercia will establish a team of up to four people initially on the UoE campus and it said it had the funds available for new investments.

It will be an important base for Mercia as it looks to reach out to research centres operating within UoE, importantly connecting to its five other Scottish university partners and more broadly, to other innovators and entrepreneurs across Scotland.

Dr George Baxter, CEO of Edinburgh Innovations at the UoE said: “The UoE has an exciting pipeline of technology coming from its internationally recognised research base. We are pleased to be working with Mercia which has a strong track record of supporting spinout activity.

“We see this partnership as an important part in the UoE’s mission to increase its role in local, regional and national innovation, such as the recently announced Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.”

Mark Payton, Mercia CEO, added: “This is a further milestone for Mercia as we continue to expand our model of patiently supporting globally relevant opportunities with our managed funds before swiftly scaling via our balance sheet capital.

“I would like to thank the team at the UoE for their positive support and engagement. I look forward to what I know will be a productive relationship as we build out our presence in Scotland and, in parallel, continue to support our 18 other key university partnerships across the Midlands, the North of England and Scotland.”

Close