The Next Leap

The Next Leap » Entertech VCIF launches to back Turkish startups The fund has been created by Entertech Istanbul Technopark, which is owned by Istanbul University and Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa.

Entertech Istanbul Technopark, a commercialisation hub established by Istanbul University and Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, has launched the Entertech First Venture Capital Investment Fund thenextleap.is/news/enterte...

The Next Leap » New Zealand introduces professor's privilege Significant changes in national IP policy, which also include pre-defined equity stakes, are expected to lead to more spinouts.

New Zealand has radically overhauled its intellectual property policy, bringing in professor's privilege and setting the amount of equity a university is allowed to take in any spinouts it does help establish: thenextleap.is/news/new-zea...

The Next Leap » Zuzana Paulovics leaves CUIP after police intervention Zuzana Paulovics has left her role as chairwoman of Charles University Innovations Prague after just a little over five months.

Zuzana Paulovics has resigned from Charles University Innovations Prague after less than half a year, following a police raid that's just the latest chapter in an ongoing drama thenextleap.is/news/zuzana-...

The Next Leap » Innovation Gateway promotes Dan Geller The University of Georgia's Dan Geller assumed his new role as director last month, having previously served as assistant director of the Startup Program.

Dan Geller has been promoted to director of the Innovation Gateway’s Startup Program at the @universityofga.bsky.social. He is now responsible for overseeing a growing portfolio of over 200 spinouts and startups. thenextleap.is/news/dan-gel...

The Next Leap » Hanoi targets first university spinout by year's end Hanoi aims to produce its first university spinout by year-end after the central government issued clear enabling regulations.

Hanoi is targeting its first university spinout by the end of 2025, following the government's issuing of a legal framework that enables institutions to incorporate businesses and invest in them thenextleap.is/news/vietnam...

The Next Leap » ASTP report paints complex picture of knowledge transfer metrics A report published by an ASTP working group outlines the often vastly different data points collected through 19 national surveys.

An ASTP report exploring ways of harmonising knowledge transfer metrics across Europe has been published. It paints a complex picture of existing data collected in 19 different countries (e.g. the ONLY data point collected by everyone is patent applications) thenextleap.is/news/astp-re...

The Next Leap » UNSW Canberra backs the ACTivate Capital Fund The ACTivate Capital Fund was set up by the government of the Australian Capital Territory to invest in startups and spinouts in Canberra.

UNSW Canberra has thrown its weight behind the Canberra government's ACTivate Capital Fund thenextleap.is/news/unsw-ca...

The Next Leap » UPLB restructures innovation infrastructure Haerold Dean Z. Layaoen will lead the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Enterprise Management at the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

The University of the Philippines Los Baños restructures innovation infrastructure, names Haerold Dean Z. Layaoen vice chancellor for innovation and enterprise management thenextleap.is/news/uplb-of...

The Next Leap » MSU Technologies promotes Brian Wright to executive director Brian Wright has been chosen to succeed his former boss Anne DiSante, who retired earlier this year.

Michigan State University's commercialisation arm MSU Technologies has promoted Brian Wright to executive director following a competitive nationwide search for a successor to Anne DiSante, who retired in July thenextleap.is/news/brian-w...

The Next Leap » Uniseed brings in Alastair Hick as its new CEO The Next Leap is a media and data research consultancy for the university technology transfer ecosystem. Listen to our eponymous podcast for free everywhere.

Alastair Hick is the new CEO of Uniseed, joining the fund after nearly two decades at @monashuniversity.bsky.social, where his achievements have included increasing commercialisation revenue by 500%.
thenextleap.is/news/alastai...

The Next Leap » Breakthrough Victoria backs the SYNthesis BioVentures Fund I Created by Monash University's Prof Andrew Wilks, the SYNthesis BioVentures Fund I works with Australian research institutes to scale their spinouts.

Breakthrough Victoria backs the SYNthesis BioVentures Fund I, created by Monash University professor Andrew Wilks to invest in therapeutics spinouts from medical research institutes located in Australia's state of Victoria thenextleap.is/news/breakth...

The Next Leap » William Kirkland picked to helm South Carolina Research Authority The former executive of the University of South Carolina's Office of Economic Engagement will run the South Carolina Research Authority.

William Kirkland has been chosen to helm the South Carolina Research Authority thenextleap.is/news/william...

The Next Leap » Polytechnique Ventures secures €21 million for second fund The École Polytechnique-aligned fund has a final target of €30 million to €40 million, which would roughly double its assets under management.

Polytechnique Ventures secures €21 million for second fund, with a €30 million to €40 million target thenextleap.is/news/polytec...

The Next Leap » Sanae Takaichi's win risks impeding Japan's spinout ambitions The new Japanese prime minister's anti-immigrant rhetoric risks cutting off Japanese university spinouts from global talent and markets.

Sanae Takaichi's election win risks impeding #Japan's spinout ambitions thenextleap.is/opinion/sana...

The Next Leap » Cicada Innovations picks Liza Noonan as CEO Liza Noonan is currently the executive director of Investment NSW, and she will succeed Sally-Ann Williams.

Cicada Innovations has found its new CEO, three months after the departure of its previous chief executive. Liza Noonan will join from Investment NSW in November: thenextleap.is/news/liza-no...

The Next Leap » Cleveland Clinic collaborates with Khosla on spinouts Cleveland Clinic and Khosla Ventures have inked a partnership that will see the two collaborate on spinout creation.

@clevelandclinic.bsky.social has partnered with @khoslaventures.bsky.social to give Khosla-backed startups access to the health system, while the two also plan to collaborate on new venture creation
thenextleap.is/news/clevela...

The Next Leap » Karen Deak made permanent executive director of IDEA Center Karen Deak has been executive director of the University of Notre Dame's IDEA Center in an interim capacity since September 2024.

Karen Deak made permanent executive director of the University of Notre Dame's IDEA Center, a year after she took on the role in an interim capacity. thenextleap.is/news/karen-d...

The Next Leap » Allison Markova to head tech transfer at the URI Research Foundation Allison Markova is the new director of technology transfer and innovation partnerships at the University of Rhode Island Research Foundation.

Allison Markova has been hired to lead tech transfer at the University of Rhode Island Research Foundation
thenextleap.is/news/allison...

The Next Leap » University of Arkansas promotes tech transfer leader David Hinton David Hinton, the executive director of Technology Ventures since 2023, is now associate vice chancellor for research and innovation.

The University of Arkansas has promoted David Hinton, the executive director of its tech transfer office, to associate vice chancellor for research and innovation
thenextleap.is/news/david-h...

The Next Leap » Mireya McKee is promoted at Innovate Carolina Mireya McKee has been appointed interim director of the New Ventures and Partnerships group within UNC at Chapel Hill's innovation unit.

Mireya McKee has been promoted to interim director of Innovate Carolina’s New Ventures and Partnerships group thenextleap.is/news/mireya-...

The Next Leap » University of Dubai launches deep tech fund The AED100 million Dubai Tech X Fund will invest in deep tech and AI spinouts in an effort to bolster the regional innovation ecosystem.

The University of Dubai has launched a deep tech fund in collaboration with Significa Ventures thenextleap.is/news/univers...

The Next Leap » University of British Columbia's Gail Murphy to step down The University of British Columbia's vice president for research and innovation, Gail Murphy, will step down after nine years in the role.

University of British Columbia’s Gail Murphy will step down in spring thenextleap.is/news/gail-mu...

The Next Leap » Karim Bahou joins Manchester innovation district Sister Karim Bahou has been appointed head of innovation at Sister, a joint initiative of the University of Manchester and Bruntwood SciTech.

Karim Bahou has joined Sister, the innovation district being built by the University of Manchester, as head of innovation
thenextleap.is/news/karim-b...

The Next Leap » Empowering academic founders: policies, programmes, and pitfalls Experts from MIT, UNSW, KU Leuven, and the universities of Edinburgh and Manchester reveal how to foster an entrepreneurial mindset.

We've partnered with TenU to bring you a special bonus episode of our podcast today, tackling the important challenge of how to instil an entrepreneurial mindset in faculty, staff and students. thenextleap.is/episode/009-...

The Next Leap » Stockholm universities launch Trio Impact Invest Karolinska Institute, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Stockholm University have joined forces to launch an early-stage venture fund.

The investment arms of three Stockholm universities have joined forces to launch Trio Impact Invest, which will back early-stage deep tech startups in the capital city region
thenextleap.is/news/trio-im...

Friday Five: VR glaucoma scans, heat-powered sensors, and 3D‑printing space trash into tools Spinouts turn waste, thermal energy and VR tech into sustainable solutions for industry, space, and healthcare.

Every Friday, we handpick five spinouts from across the globe; some sound like science fiction, but every one is building the future today. thenextleap.is/features/fri...

The Next Leap » Ohio State University selects John Horack to lead innovation John Horack, the university's Neil Armstrong Chair in Aerospace Policy, will become vice president for research next week.

John Horack, the Neil Armstrong Chair at Ohio State University, has been promoted to vice president for research effective 1 October
thenextleap.is/news/john-ho...

The Next Leap » Lindsay DiStefano assumes innovation role at UConn The University of Connecticut has named Lindsay DiStefano interim vice president for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Lindsay DiStefano is taking on the role of interim vice president for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship at @uconn.bsky.social. She's currently the AVP for research development at the US institution. thenextleap.is/news/lindsay...

The Next Leap » Robert Langer, prolific spinout founder, launches $77.5m fund T.Rx Capital has closed its inaugural fund at $77.5 million to build and invest in healthcare startups, with Langer's son also among the firm's co-founders.

Robert Langer, founder of more than 40 spinouts from @mit.edu, has launched his own venture fund, T.Rx Capital, which will help build and invest in 10-15 biotech startups from a $77.5 million first fund
thenextleap.is/news/trx-cap...

The Next Leap » Kenya draws up plans for $100 million commercialisation fund The Kenya National Innovation Agency is looking to raise $100 million fund to accelerate research commercialisation into spinouts.

Kenya's National Innovation Agency is drawing up plans for a $100 million commercialisation fund
thenextleap.is/news/kenya-c...