West Midlands Universities Launch DigiSpin WM to Fast-Track Innovation and Drive Economic Growth

By Anushka Malhotra

2 minute 08 seconds

Growth

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Quick Read: West Midlands universities launch the DigiSpin WM program to accelerate university-led innovation and spin-out companies, aiming to boost economic growth and transform research into market-ready businesses.

Coventry University, in partnership with Birmingham City University and the University of Wolverhampton, has launched a groundbreaking new initiative called DigiSpin WM. Supported by UKRI Research England, this program aims to reshape the pathway from university research to viable businesses in the advanced manufacturing and digital innovation sectors. The DigiSpin WM initiative is a pilot program, part of the West Midlands Combined Universities (WMCU) partnership, and will support the region’s new Investment Zone by fostering innovation and economic development.

Set to begin in November 2024, DigiSpin WM will establish a collaborative ecosystem designed to help university-led innovations move smoothly from research to the marketplace, enabling spin-out companies to thrive. Intended as a model for nationwide adoption, the program seeks to empower universities across the UK to enhance their impact on regional and national economic growth.

Accelerating Innovation: Overcoming Challenges for University Spin-Outs

The program addresses the key hurdles that researchers often face when commercialising their work, including streamlined processes for market entry, intellectual property protection, investment readiness, and fostering industry partnerships. DigiSpin WM’s main objectives include:

Fast-Tracking Market Entry: Simplifying and speeding up the process for transforming research into commercial products.

IP Protection: Offering expert guidance on securing and managing intellectual property rights.

Investment Readiness: Developing robust business plans and supporting investment attraction.

Collaborative Network-Building: Connecting researchers with industry partners to support knowledge exchange and co-innovation.

Building Momentum Across the West Midlands and Beyond

DigiSpin WM is designed to have a far-reaching impact, not only on individual researchers but also on the broader economic landscape of the West Midlands. By encouraging the creation of successful spin-outs, the program is expected to contribute to regional job growth, attract investment, and position the West Midlands as a leading hub for innovation-driven industries.

Professor John Latham CBE, Vice-Chancellor and CEO of Coventry University Group, expressed his enthusiasm for DigiSpin WM, highlighting its potential to leave a lasting legacy on advanced manufacturing in the region:

“DigiSpin WM will help our universities transform cutting-edge research into sustainable businesses that contribute to the long-term prosperity of the West Midlands.”

Albi Lamaj, IP Associate Director at Coventry University, added that the initiative represents a powerful step in empowering researchers and driving economic growth, especially by integrating best practices from the USIT Guide to streamline the process of creating and funding spin-out companies.

Exploring a Collaborative Model for Technology Transfer

DigiSpin WM will also explore the potential for shared Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) across universities, a question that Research England hopes to answer through this pilot. Professor Dame Jessica Corner, Executive Chair of Research England, noted,

“DigiSpin WM will provide valuable insights into how TTOs can be effectively shared across universities, helping us address financial sustainability and support economic growth.”

With the support of UKRI and the commitment of regional universities, DigiSpin WM is set to establish a scalable and replicable framework for universities across the UK. Through shared resources, streamlined processes, and a collaborative approach to innovation, DigiSpin WM aims to maximise the impact of research and contribute to the UK’s economic growth agenda.

What's new

West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator Unlocks Nearly £50M in Private Investment

The West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator (WMHTIA), led by the University of Birmingham, has generated an impressive £49.4 million in private co-investment within its first two years, significantly surpassing its original £14.5 million public funding allocation.

Funded through the Innovation Accelerator programme, coordinated by Innovate UK, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and UK Research and Innovation, WMHTIA has become a leading force in advancing health technology innovation across the region.

The majority of the private investment—£36.3 million—was directly committed by investors to enterprises supported by the Accelerator. This achievement represents a threefold return on the initial public investment, demonstrating the strong investor confidence in the region’s health tech sector.

Powering Health Innovation Through Collaboration

The WMHTIA brings together 21 partners from academia, industry, and the NHS to help healthtech companies develop, validate, and commercialise cutting-edge medical technologies. So far, companies supported through the programme have also secured an additional £10 million in national public grants from agencies including NIHR, Eureka, and Innovate UK.

Including both public and private contributions, the total investment leveraged by WMHTIA now stands at £67.3 million.

Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Birmingham:

We’re proud to support startups through the riskiest stages of innovation so more life-saving technologies reach patients. This exceptional investment proves what’s possible when academia, the NHS, and industry work together to drive economic growth and better health outcomes.

In March 2025, the Innovation Accelerator programme was extended with a further £30 million, including £4 million for the WMHTIA to continue supporting the region’s innovators in 2025/26.

Backing the Future of Health Tech

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands:

The West Midlands is leading medical tech innovation—from faster diagnoses to shorter hospital stays. Healthtech isn’t just improving lives; it’s creating secure, high-value jobs that drive inclusive growth.

Dean Cook, Executive Director of Place and Global, Innovate UK:

This programme shows how place-based innovation can unlock greater business investment in R&D. By connecting the region’s strengths, we’re creating high-value jobs and building globally significant innovation capability.

The WMHTIA continues to strengthen the region’s reputation as a national hub for health technology, with far-reaching benefits for patient care, job creation, and regional economic development.

By Anushka Malhotra

24 Jun