Allows Mention: Southampton University Excels in Supporting UK Entrepreneurship Via Startups and Spin-offs
University of Southampton Leads in UK Startup Development, Especially in AI Sector
The University of Southampton has established itself as a key player in the UK's startup development, particularly in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector. According to a report from the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng), the university ranks among the top 20 in the UK for launching startups.
One of the university's initiatives, Future Worlds, a tech startup accelerator, co-organizes the AIR26 Bootcamp—an intensive, six-month programme designed to help researchers across the UK commercialize AI-based technologies into scalable startups. This Bootcamp and the full AIR26 programme provide support, training, and guidance on business models, market potential, and customer development for AI entrepreneurs, emphasizing responsible AI innovation that benefits society and the nation.
The university's active role in nurturing early-stage AI startups is evident in the success of its spinout companies. OhmSpace, a spinout company supported by Future Worlds, is developing an electric thruster for long-distance spacecraft to land on Mars or far-off asteroids. Another spinout, Absolar, leverages AI and industry expertise to provide critical information for solar investment decisions.
Aquark Technologies, a tech company based at the University of Southampton, creates portable and robust hardware for quantum sensing, quantum computing, and quantum communications. The company was the first UK company to be funded by the NATO Innovation Fund.
The founders of OhmSpace and Absolar are recipients of RAEng Enterprise Fellowships, a twelve-month deeptech accelerator for researchers and graduates to turn engineering innovations into successful startups.
The University of Southampton's tech startups are making a real impact on the UK economy and contributing to innovation. In the last five years, startups and spinouts working with the university have raised more than £78 million and created nearly 400 jobs. UK universities secured £2.6 billion worth of funding for spinouts in 2024, according to a report from the Royal Academy of Engineering.
The university's Future Worlds team offers support for researchers and students at any stage of the startup creation process. Interested individuals can book an informal call or meeting with the team. The website is also hosting an information event about the RAEng Enterprise Fellowship, featuring insights from a startup founder currently on the program.
Researchers or students at the University of Southampton who want to create a startup can book their space for the information event here. Absolar was founded by Dr. Phil Wu. OhmSpace successfully secured €1.2m in funding, led by Scientifica Venture Capital, and is now working with the British and European Space Agencies.
Dr. Alice Iles, Head of Tech Acceleration at the University of Southampton, commented on the website's role in supporting successful RAEng Enterprise Fellowship applications. The Director of the university's Future Worlds emphasized that the university's tech startups are aligning with broader national innovation goals outlined by the Royal Academy of Engineering.
The university's prominence in this area is further highlighted as no other university or startup program was mentioned explicitly in the RAEng context among the search results.
- The University of Southampton ranks among the top 20 in the UK for launching startups, particularly in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector.
- The university's initiative, Future Worlds, co-organizes the AIR26 Bootcamp, a six-month programme for AI researchers to commercialize technologies.
- OhmSpace, a spinout company supported by Future Worlds, is developing electric thrusters for spacecraft, with €1.2m in funding led by Scientifica Venture Capital.
- Another spinout, Absolar, leverages AI and industry expertise for solar investment decisions and received funding from the Royal Academy of Engineering.
- The founders of OhmSpace and Absolar are recipients of RAEng Enterprise Fellowships, a deeptech accelerator for engineering innovations.
- In the last five years, startups and spinouts working with the University of Southampton have raised more than £78 million and created nearly 400 jobs.
- Researchers or students at the University of Southampton who want to create a startup can book their space for the RAEng Enterprise Fellowship information event and seek support from the Future Worlds team.
