TenU, the collaboration of international university technology transfer organisations, has appointed Andrew Wilkinson, CEO of the University of Manchester Innovation Factory, as its new president.
Andrew takes over the role from Anne Lane, CEO of UCL’s technology transfer company UCLB.
TenU comprises the technology transfer organisations of the Universities of Cambridge, Columbia, Edinburgh, Imperial College London, Leuven, Manchester, MIT, Stanford, Oxford, and University College London.
The informal group has the objective of capturing and sharing insights and best practice in the area of University IP commercialisation. TenU works closely with government, the early-stage technology investment community and licensees to create an environment that supports the translation of high-impact academic research into successful spinout companies and valuable intellectual property (IP).
Andrew Wilkinson said:
I am very excited about taking over the presidency and building on the fantastic work done by Anne and our other TenU colleagues. TenU provides an invaluable informal platform to understand how national governments, investors and the Universities can collaborate together more effectively to ensure that the fantastic research from our world-leading institutions can create positive social, economic, and environmental impact.
Having members from the UK, the USA and mainland Europe enables us to identify the differences and similarities between the approaches we all take to IP commercialisation and dispel some of the misunderstandings about the way things are done and challenges in different geographies. ”
In 2023, TenU is rolling out a programme of events and reports, which will continue to support closer collaboration and understanding between all those involved in the translation of innovative University research into new businesses and IP.
Dr George Baxter, CEO of Edinburgh Innovations, the University of Edinburgh’s tech transfer and commercialisation service, said:
We welcome Andrew to this important role fostering collaboration between world-leading universities.
The global challenges we face in the areas of health, data and sustainability are complex and increasingly urgent, and we need innovation – the process of translating cutting-edge research into real-world solutions – to meet those challenges. We look forward to working together with the University of Manchester Innovation Factory and all the TenU forum members to support our best-in-class academics to make ideas work for a better world. ”
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Header Image: Andrew Wilkinson
