Queen Mary, University of LondonQueen Mary, University of London is one of the UK's leading research-focused higher education institutions. With around 16,900 students, 3,000 staff and an annual budget of £300m, it is one of the biggest University of London colleges.

IP Group signed its partnership with Queen Mary in 2006. Following the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008), The Guardian ranked Queen Mary 11th in the UK for the quality of its research.

Queen Mary encourages its academics to look for ways to commercialise technology and research and also supports the development of spin-out companies. Examples of successful spin-outs originating in Queen Mary include ApaTech, which was set up in 2001 to manufacture and market synthetic bone substitutes, and was sold in 2010 for $330m (one of the largest transactions of its kind); and DegraSense, a joint venture between scientists in the schools of Biological and Chemical Sciences and Engineering and Materials Science, which seeks to use protease biosensor technology to treat inflammatory conditions.

Queen Mary Innovation (QMI) is responsible for creating and growing sustainable companies based on research generated by Queen Mary, University of London including spin-out companies and social enterprises.

Queen Mary's spin-out portfolio currently includes twelve technology-based companies, two of which were featured in the Sunday Times list of the top 50 fastest growing tech companies in 2009 (Apatech 2nd, Retroscreen 40th). Other important companies include Queen Mary BioEnterprises and Innovation Centre which has created a state-of-the-art incubation facility at Whitechapel.

www.qmul.ac.uk

www.innovation.qmul.ac.uk

Queen Mary, University of London Partnership Portfolio Companies

“IP Group has a strong sense of commitment to the business in which they invest, positioning themselves as partners in your company and are in it ‘for the long run.’ IPG made their first investment in RVL in 2006 when the company was first spun out of QM. They have stood shoulder to shoulder with us as we grew and matured, offering both financial and professional support at each stage of the company’s development. IP Group take the time to understand you and your business and very much work with you as a member of the team. I have also been deeply impressed by the fairness they have exhibited in their financial dealings…fairness is not a concept normally associated with venture capitalists.”

Kym Denny
CEO
Retroscreen Virology Ltd