Cambridge is recognised globally for its culture of fostering and enabling university innovation and entrepreneurship.
We help to activate this, by convening and connecting activities across the University and leveraging the wider ecosystem.
IE Cambridge acts as the central hub for all the University’s innovation and entrepreneurship activities, supporting innovators and entrepreneurs to navigate more effectively the rich support on offer. Highlighting various entrepreneurial journeys, the website provides resources, information on the wealth of support programmes and activities available, and a calendar of events to inspire and support entrepreneurs at whatever stage they are at. It is an essential tool for guiding students, postdoctoral, and academic researchers.
“IE Cambridge is successfully underpinning the University’s commitment to building an entrepreneurial culture.”
Caroline Hyde, Head of Ecosystem Initiatives and Partnerships
IE Cambridge has also been instrumental in convening the entrepreneurial ecosystem through a range of high-profile, well-attended events – from IE Expo, which coincides with Global Entrepreneurship Week and showcases over 16 entrepreneurial programmes, to a specific event aimed at postdoctoral researchers exploring research commercialisation.
“Connecting our innovators to the right support – whether it’s developing entrepreneurial skills or supporting venture growth – ensures that they have what they need at every stage of their journey.”
This convening role also saw the launch of the first Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Cambridge report, a compelling overview illustrating the breadth of activities at Cambridge and showcasing the University as a powerhouse of entrepreneurship.
ideaSpace, the University’s incubator and community for founders and early-stage ventures, became the home to the Founders at the University of Cambridge START 1.0 cohort in February 2024. The 11 companies joined the community of member companies at West Cambridge and benefited not only from peer networking but also from tapping into the wider network of over 1,100 alumni members. From the three sites across the city, ideaSpace also celebrated the graduation and growth of members, including Smartbell, Epitopea and Bainbridge Bio.
Image credits: Matthew Power, David Johnson, Unsplash
