About Forging Ahead

A new era of commercialisation is taking place in the Midlands.

One of the largest university collaborations in the UK, the Forging Ahead project aims to enable more commercialisation opportunities, joint ventures and spinout businesses to grow here in the region, which in turn create jobs, attract investment and drive economic growth across the Midlands.

Here's how we're doing that:


1. We’re UNLOCKING POTENTIAL - by building a new talent pipeline of commercial and domain experts who spinouts companies can bring into fuel their growth. We’re also unlocking potential of our the region's university commercialisation teams through a dedicated peer-to peer learning programme.

2. We're DELIVERING IMPACT - through expanding a number of proven training programmes and opening up new pathways to commercialisation.

4. And we’re CONNECTING THE ECOSYSTEM – bringing university commercial teams, founders, investors, policymakers and innovators closer together than ever before through 'Forging Links' and the Midlands Ecosystem Platform on Dealroom.

     
    It’s time to put the Midlands firmly on the map as a destination to scale up thriving businesses fuelled by university research.

    It’s time to show how Midlands universities are working together to provide more commercialisation opportunities.

    It’s time to forge ahead.

    Photo: University leaders at the launch of the Forging Ahead project, Aston university May 2025