Our role within the University ecosystem
We work closely with colleagues across the University’s schools, faculties, departments and institutions to help them create impact from their research through knowledge and technology transfer.
We help both University members and external organisations with intellectual property management and licensing, investment in University spin-outs, and consultancy management and advice.
There are many other entities and initiatives operating within the University’s business and enterprise ecosystem; if you are looking for support beyond Cambridge Enterprise, it can be a challenge to know where to turn. To help you get started, we have collated a list below of categories and resources that you might find useful.
Do you need some help?
We hope that the list below is useful, but if you need help with anything from translational funding through to considering a spin-out, then please feel welcome to get in touch with us for a confidential chat.
Centres, Departments and Institutes
Cambridge Centre for Data-Driven Discovery (C2D3)
The Cambridge Centre for Data-Driven Discovery (C2D3) brings together researchers and expertise from across the academic departments and industry to drive research into the analysis, understanding and use of data science and AI. C2D3 is an Interdisciplinary Research Centre at the University of Cambridge.
Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation
The Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation at Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, acts as a platform for research and engagement with social innovators, academia and policy in UK and across the world.
Cambridge Conservation Initiative
The Cambridge Conservation Initiative aims to transform the global understanding and conservation of biodiversity by catalysing strategic partnerships between leaders in research, education, policy and practice, to secure a sustainable future for biodiversity and society.
Cambridge Judge Business School
Cambridge Judge Business School is home to the Entrepreneurship Centre, which encompasses the full entrepreneurial journey, starting with the empowerment of aspiring entrepreneurs through to the creation and development of early-stage ventures, all the way to small and medium size enterprise growth; and Cambridge Social Ventures, whose programmes are designed for people who will drive their businesses forward to create real, scaleable, lasting social or environmental change.
Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)
CISL focuses on developing leadership and solutions for building sustainable economies worldwide.
Department of Computer Science and Technology
The Department of Computer Science and Technology (known as the Computer Laboratory) is an academic department within the University of Cambridge that encompasses Computer Science, along with many aspects of Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Institute for Manufacturing (IfM)
Part of the Department of Engineering, the IfM focuses on innovations in manufacturing.
The Maxwell Centre
The Maxwell Centre is the centrepiece for industrial engagement with the physical scientists and engineers working on the West Cambridge Science and Technology Campus.
Communities
ideaSpace
ideaSpace creates a community for entrepreneurs that provides shared office space, information and advice.
Makespace
Makespace is a community workshop in the heart of Cambridge and a Biomakespace lab on the Addenbrooke’s site. Equipment ranges from sewing machines and crafting tools to 3D printers, laser cutters to CNC routers, microscopes to PCR machines.
Networks
Cambridge Grand Challenges (CGC)
CGC is a framework for collaboration between industry, government, and academia, designed to help deliver the UK’s Industrial and Innovation Strategy.
Connect: HealthTech
Connect: HealthTech’s mission is to create a University Enterprise Zone for Cambridge across the life and physical sciences.
Entrepreneurial Postdocs of Cambridge (EPOC)
EPOC is focused on maximising the entrepreneurial and business potential of Cambridge’s world-leading researchers. EPOC joins us each year in running the Chris Abell Postdoc Business Plan Competition.
Knowledge Exchange Network (KEN)
KEN convenes the Research and Knowledge Transfer Facilitators and other University staff working in this area. It is chaired by the Head of Impact and Knowledge Exchange at the Research Strategy Office.
University Entrepreneurs Network (UEN)
The UEN is a fantastic resource for staff and students interested in all aspects of enterprise and innovation, pointing you to a huge range of activities and support available across the University.
Offices and teams
Research Strategy Office
The Research Strategy Office plays a key role in supporting the groundbreaking research of the University that underpins a huge range of innovations that create beneficial impact.
The University's Business Partnerships team
The University’s central Business Partnerships team manages strategic partnerships with industry and co-ordinates the strategic development of business and enterprise across the University.
Programmes
Accelerate Cambridge
Accelerate Cambridge is a start-up accelerator established by Cambridge Judge Business School in May 2012.
Accelerate Programme for Scientific Discovery (APSCI)
APSCI is an interdisciplinary research team based in the Department for Computer Science and Technology that uses machine learning to advance the frontiers of science.
Cambridge Social Ventures
Cambridge Social Ventures supports a whole range of businesses that have positive social and environmental impacts. Its programmes are designed for people who will drive their businesses forward to create real, scaleable, lasting social or environmental change.
Cambridge Zero Demo Lab
The Cambridge Zero Demo Lab at the Maxwell Centre has been establisehd to accelerate progress towards meeting zero carbon targets.
Ignite
Ignite is a one-week intensive entrepreneurship capacity building programme for researchers, entrepreneurs, and corporate innovators from across the world and from Cambridge itself. Drawing on the best practices in entrepreneurship emerging from Cambridge Judge Business School, practitioner-based case studies and the support of the world-renowned Cambridge ecosystem, it is designed to provide them with a clear action-based framework and the knowledge and connections to help them explore and lead their innovation to commercial success.
Impulse
The Impulse Programme run by the Maxwell Centre serves as a catalyst for entrepreneurship in individuals and organisations. The programme acts as a learning vehicle with a sharp focus on prioritising and developing ‘high-potential’ business cases.
i-Teams
The i-Teams innovation programme brings together multi-disciplinary teams of post-graduates with industry mentors and real Cambridge inventions to assess the commercial viability of new technologies and product designs. We currently run 2 courses a term, which includes Innovation i-Teams (commercialisation of any new technology or product concept), Medical i-Teams (taking medical innovations into the clinic) and Development i-Teams (using new inventions in low and middle income countries). Past i-Teams projects are visible at all stages of the Cambridge innovation ecosystem, including over 95 early-stage startups and funded startups all the way through to launched products and successful acquisitions by multi-national companies.
Please contact us at any time if you have a technology or early-stage product that you would like us to use in a future course. Applications to join a team open 3-4 weeks before the start of each course.
Student societies
Cambridge Colleges
Many of the Cambridge Colleges have their own societies for budding entrepreneurs. Below is a list of the more established ones. Please refer to your College website to find out what other resources may also be on offer.
Hughes Hall Enterprise Society
Lucy Cavendish Make Your Impact
Pembroke College Parmee Prize for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise
Cambridge University Entrepreneurs (CUE)
CUE is a student society that runs a three phase business plan competition for all members of the University.
Cambridge University StartUp Society (CUSUS)
CUSUS is the university hub for start ups and those interested in entrepreneurship. Throughout the academic year we get influential speakers who have been through the start up world.
Cambridge University Technology and Enterprise Club (CUTEC)
CUTEC is a student society aiming to enhance the entrepreneurial spirit amongst academics and students and to assist outside businesses gain greater access to the research and entrepreneurial communities at the University.
Do you have information to add?
The University ecosystem is always changing. If you spot any information that is out of date or missing then please let us know by completing our general enquiry form.