Tech transfer arm Edinburgh Innovations has created a new role of director of venture creation to increase the number of companies it spins out.
Edinburgh Innovations, the commercialisation arm of the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, has hired Lizzie Withington in the newly created role of director of venture creation.
The role includes building spinout companies and growing a network of investors and experienced CEOs to ensure spinouts have effective management and investment.
In November, Edinburgh Innovations announced record research translation figures for the financial year 2023 and 2024, including the launch of 127 companies, five of which were spinouts.
Withington comes from Newcastle University where she had a similar role of company creation manager. At the university, based in northern England, she led a portfolio of 42 spinouts.
“It’s now time to increase the rate of venture creation in order to translate these technologies into innovations that deliver economic growth and make ideas work for a better world,” said Andrea Taylor, CEO of Edinburgh Innovations, in a release announcing the new hire.
Since 2011 the University of Edinburgh has been connected with venture investment fund Old College Capital, which invests in technologies emerging from the university.
