UK commercialisation firm the IP Group lands two pilot partnerships with UPenn and Columbia.

The IP Group has extended its reach outside of the UK and across the Atlantic with two pilot commercialisation deals with the universities of Pennsylvania and Columbia.

IP Group signed the deals, a commercialisation agreement with Pennsylvania and a non-exclusive partnership with Columbia, both for an 18 month pilot stage to be focused on early-stage proof-of-principle opportunities.

The commercialisation firm maintains a number of commercialisation partnerships with UK universities through subsidiary Fusion IP and is a notable investor in UK university spin-outs and funds (such as Cambridge’s $80m Innovation Capital).

Speaking on the Pennsylvania deal, Alan Aubrey, chief executive of IP Group, said: “Penn has a global reputation for innovation and commercialisation. It is extremely exciting to have signed this pilot agreement and we look forward to working with the team to progress opportunities and to backing our first spin-outs.”