UK Trade and Investment launches UKTI Innovation Gateway, offering investors the chance to mix high-risk technology investments with low-risk opportunities.
UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), a department of the UK government, has launched a new unit to boost international investment into UK innovation.
UKTI Innovation Gateway is looking to combine high risk opportunities such as investment into university spin-outs, innovation-focused buildings, and science parks, with low risk investments, such as student accommodation. The unit hopes that by packaging the two together, it can attract sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and wealthy individuals.
The Gateway aims to provide funding for projects that require large amounts of finance in excess of £30m, such as Manchester’s National Graphene Centre, with smaller projects such as spin-outs receiving venture capital investment.
James Dancy, health of science and innovation at UKTI, told news provider Times Higher Education: “It [The Gateway] aims to provide investment for the innovation market. A lot of countries find there is a lack of investment in that area because it is perceived as fairly high risk. If a university has a particular plan or project [where] they might seek this type of investment, they can come to us for advice and introductions to these funds. We can facilitate them meeting up and they can essentially get on with the deal themselves.”
