Forging Ahead is a bold, £16 million initiative, set to transform the Midlands into a globally recognised hub for innovation, commercialisation and venture creation.
Backed by Research England’s Connecting Capabilities Fund, this 5-year programme is led by Loughborough University working with Midlands Innovation and 15 partner Universities making it one of the UK’s largest higher education collaborations.
The programme aims to radically advance the region’s commercialisation ecosystem connecting researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry mentors to accelerate the journey from research to real-world impact.
Together we are supercharging entrepreneurial activity, creating dynamic new pathways for academic ideas to become high-growth ventures and supporting diverse talent to drive inclusive economic growth ensuring innovation benefits communities across our region.
Programmes
Forging Ahead is expanding and developing four key programmes across the Midlands.
The Midlands Ecosystem Platform
The Midlands Ecosystem Platform, powered by Dealroom, brings the region’s dynamic ecosystem to life – offering open access data on startups, scale-ups, corporates, investors across the Midlands region.
Commercial Champions
Commercial Champions’ can share expertise, provide mentor support, open networks, and strengthen the capabilities of the region’s spinouts.
