Fusion IP plc

Fusion IP, plc. is a UK based listed company that capitalises on intellectual property extracted from four UK based universities, three of which are part of the Russell Group of universities:

• University of Sheffield,
• Cardiff University,
• University of Nottingham,
• Swansea University.

It does this by creating companies around commercially opportunistic research and discoveries from the four universities. These companies are grown and then eventually sold (see spin-out companies).

Fusion IP is one of a handful of companies that specialise in the commercialisation of university intellectual property within the UK through the sourcing of funding from public markets.^[1] The other two notable companies operating the same field are IP Group plc (LSE: IPO) and Imperial Innovations plc (LSE: IVO). Additionally, smaller companies operate within the field of university intellectual property but do not have such a focus on spinning out companies, nor a formal contractual relationship with universities over intellectual property rights.

Fusion IP has 20 companies currently within its portfolio. It creates between 2 and 3 new companies each year.

Incubation Model

Fusion IP’s model of growing companies focuses around a business incubation model in which Fusion IP employees initially run, then continue to support the growth of every company within its portfolio.

Stages to the Fusion IP company creation and growth model:

1. Review commercial opportunities produced by university partners, selecting those with the most potential for further development - "mining for ideas"
2. Convert the idea into a small start up company - incubation stage
3. Grow the company using a traditional venture capital approach
4. Sell the company

Partnerships

University Partnerships

Fusion IP has current intellectual property agreements with four UK universities, three of which are part of the Russell Group of Universities. Fusion IP intends to further increase the number of university agreements it holds in the future.

University of Sheffield

In 2005, Fusion IP signed a 10-year agreement with the University of Sheffield for the exclusive rights to commercialise all of their university-owned medical intellectual property, through either licensing or the creation of spin-out companies.
In July 2008, Fusion IP signed a new expanded agreement with the University of Sheffield to add all university owned intellectual property from physical sciences to the original agreement, such that Fusion had the rights over all of the University of Sheffield's intellectual property, through either licensing or the creation of spin-out companies. This new expanded agreement gives Fusion IP the exclusive rights to all physical sciences intellectual property until 2018, in addition to the exclusive medical intellectual property rights, which currently runs to 2015.

Cardiff University

In 2007, Fusion IP signed a second exclusive 10-year agreement with Cardiff University to commercialise all of their intellectual property. This agreement^[2] was almost identical to that which the company entered into with Sheffield. This differed only through a limitation which requires Fusion IP to create a company around intellectual property in order to commercialise it.

University of Nottingham

Fusion IP partnered with the University of Nottingham in 2013. This was announced as part of a new £20m funding round. The agreement is less formal than the company’s first two agreements, and in effect gives Fusion first “look-see” rights to IP generated at the University.

The agreement with the University is referred to as an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding).

Swansea University

Fusion IP partnered with Swansea University in 2013, at the same time as it entered an agreement with the University of Nottingham. The agreements for each university are identical.

Financing Partnerships

Finance Wales

The Finance Wales Group manages funds of more than £335 million and has invested more than £189 million. It entered an memorandum of understanding with Fusion IP during 2007 and renewed this agreement in 2013, at which time Swansea University was added to the terms of reference.

Finance Wales have co invested with Fusion IP in a number of companies including Diurnal, Medaphor, Q-Chip, Mesuro and Asalus.

IP Group

IP Group plc is a leading UK intellectual property commercialisation company, developing technology innovations primarily from its research intensive partner universities. IP Group provides more than traditional venture capital, providing its companies with access to business building expertise, networks, recruitment and business support.

Since its admission to AIM in 2003, the Group has raised approximately £85m of net proceeds from its shareholders (most recently through a placing raising £53m after expenses in June 2011). This has provided the Group with strong cash reserves from which to provide capital to its spin-out opportunities and portfolio companies as they develop.

Companies within the Fusion IP Portfolio (A-Z)

(As of 1 September 2013)

References

External links

• Fusion IP website

University of Sheffield
People	Chancellor: Lady Justice Rafferty Vice-Chancellor: Sir Keith Burnett Academics Alumni Associates
Schools and research	Centre for Research into Freemasonry and Fraternalism Management School Medical School School of Architecture Sheffield iSchool Sheffield Software Engineering Observatory
Buildings	Alfred Denny Building Arts Tower Drama Studio Firth Court Goodwin Sports Centre Hicks Building Information Commons Octagon Centre Sheffield Bioincubator Sir Frederick Mappin Building St George's Church, Portobello Turner Museum of Glass University House
Student life	Students' Union Bummit Endcliffe Student Village Film Unit Forge Press Forge Radio Orienteering Club Student housing Twikker
Affiliates	Russell Group CITY College, International Faculty of the University of Sheffield N8 Research Partnership White Rose University Consortium
Category Commons

Cardiff University
People	Chancellor: Martin Evans Vice-Chancellor: Colin Riordan
Campuses	Cathays Park Heath Campus
Buildings	Bute Building Glamorgan Building Redwood Building
Schools	Business Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies Law Music Medicine Architecture Physics and Astronomy
Student Life	Cardiff University Students' Union Gair rhydd Quench Xpress Radio Student Volunteering Cardiff
Halls of Residence	Aberdare Hall Talybont Halls
Sport	Welsh Varsity Welsh Boat Race Cardiff Redhawks
Category Commons

University of Nottingham
People	Chancellor: Andrew Witty Vice-Chancellor: David Greenaway Office Holders, notable alumni and notable academics
Campuses	University Park Halls of Residence: Broadgate Park East Midlands Conference Centre China Policy Institute Jubilee Campus Aspire Sir Harry and Lady Djanogly Learning Resource Centre National College for School Leadership Sutton Bonington Campus Centre for Plant Integrative Biology University Farm Malaysia China King's Meadow Campus
Faculties	Business School Medical School Queen's Medical Centre Derby Medical School School of Pharmacy School of Politics
Student life	Students' Union InterVol (International Volunteering Project) Impact Magazine New Theatre University Radio Nottingham
Sport	Varsity Series Boat Club British Universities Ice Hockey Association Society of Change Ringers Nottingham Malaysian Games Gliding Club
Other	Academic dress Nottingham Two Nottingham University Press Nottingham New Theatre EMMAN Institute for Science and Society BioCity Nottingham