Exit strategies: spin-off successes and failures

Fifteen per cent of the university spin-offs incorporated in 2000, 2001 and 2002 have so far made a “successful exit” by way of trade sales or flotations on the stock exchange, data show

June 27, 2013

However, 33 per cent have failed and of the remaining 52 per cent, approximately one-third show little or no sign of growth, according to the PraxisUnico Spinout UK Survey, Annual Report 2013, launched at the PraxisUnico annual conference, held in Nottingham on 13 and 14 June.

The report compiles information from a database of UK university spin-offs, showing that over the past 10 years Scotland has been the UK’s most active region in their creation. This is reflected in the number of Scottish universities in the list of the 10 most active examples.

During the period measured, companies in the life sciences made up the largest proportion of the total (42 per cent).

The number of spin-offs dropped significantly in the academic year 2011-12, and this trend looks to have continued in the current academic year, the report adds.

Source: PraxisUnico Spinout UK Survey, Annual Report 2013
Note: Spin-outs are defined as companies formed to exploit intellectual property owned by a university and do not include start-ups, which are formed without IP

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com

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