University of Manchester Innovation Factory

Our core mission is to use this IP to create positive social and economic impact. The Innovation Factory works with academic and student inventors to identify research that has the potential to create value. It then translates these into a form where they can be used to benefit society as a whole. Access to innovations may be created via technology licensing or the formation of new spin-out companies. The Innovation Factory aims to provide a world class service to academic colleagues as well as industry; entrepreneurs; licensees; VC & angel investors and corporate venturing partners. One of the project we are working is a 3D printing technique. The academics at the University of Manchester have developed a 3D printing system capable of utilizing multiple materials in a single component. The combined powder-bed and point by point multiple material delivery using selective laser melting maximizes the functionality of each material. This results in high integrated multi-functional components using minimal materials and processes. This gives the potential to create combinations/blends of materials with complimentary performance characteristics for aerospace application, such as components for rocket engines, It also has the benefit of enabling customer-specific products, such as jewellery, medical and dental implants.