The University of Strathclyde is redefining what it means to be an entrepreneurial university. Its bold and transformative strategy, Strathclyde Inspire, commits to embedding entrepreneurship across the entire institution - in every faculty, at every level, and for every Strathclyder. Strathclyde was the first university in Scotland to adopt a whole-institution entrepreneurship strategy. What sets us apart is a unique blend of world-leading research and teaching in entrepreneurship, the practical expertise of our start-up and spin-out advisors, the lived experience of our vibrant network of founders, supporters, and Senior Enterprise Fellows, and a deep, shared understanding of the importance of entrepreneurship, from senior leadership to student ambassadors. The strategy is championed at the highest level by the University Principal and brought to life across our community. Our Entrepreneurial Strathclyder framework helps embed entrepreneurial skills across all academic areas, ensuring entrepreneurship is relevant and accessible to all. In the first four years of the strategy, we have engaged more than 5,500 students in entrepreneurial learning opportunities. We have supported the creation of 107 new ventures, spanning deep tech spinouts, social enterprises, and student start-ups, with over half recognised as having high-growth potential. Our portfolio companies have secured over £156 million in investment. By positioning entrepreneurship as a core part of our institutional identity, Strathclyde is building a thriving, inclusive, and impactful ecosystem. Through leadership of the Glasgow City Innovation District and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland, we are extending our influence beyond the University and helping shape Scotland’s innovation-driven future.
Finalist
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem of the Year Award
Strathclyde University: Building Scotland’s Leading Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
Finalist Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem of the Year Award
University of Strathclyde - United Kingdom
"Setting a new Standard for Strategic Entrepreneurial Ecosystems "
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Summary
Key People
Professor Sir Jim McDonald GBE
Principal and Vice Chancellor
University of Strathclyde
Professor Gillian Doherty CBE
Chief Commercial Officer
University of Strathclyde
Professor Eleanor Shaw OBE
Associate Principal (External Engagement & Partnerships)
University of Strathclyde
Professor Jillian MacBryde
Associate Principal, Entrepreneurship & Enterprise
University of Strathclyde
Fiona Ireland
Head of Entrepreneurship Strategy
University of Strathclyde
Professor Niall MacKenzie
Head of the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Innovation
University of Strathclyde
Acknowledgements
Thank you to all the staff involved in the delivery of Strathclyde Inspire. In particular, we acknowledge the contributions of the Start-Up, Industry Engagement & Commercialisation, Investment, Ecosystem Development, and Marketing teams within the Innovation & Industry Engagement Directorate; the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship; the Entrepreneurship for All Working Group with representatives from all four Faculties, the Education Enhancement Directorate, the Student Experience Directorate, the Students Union and the Organisational & Staff Development Unit.
We are also grateful to our Inspire Supporter Network, made up of entrepreneurial alumni and friends, as well as our Senior Enterprise Fellows — entrepreneurial leaders who bring real-world insight to Inspire. Special thanks to our generous donors and funders, particularly the Charles Huang Foundation, Santander Universities, and the RAC Foundation.
Finally, we thank our entrepreneurial ecosystem partners across Scotland and beyond. Together, we provide collaborative, joined-up support at every stage of the entrepreneurial journey.
Images
Ana Stewart, Chief Entrepreneur at the Scottish Government, delivering a keynote speech at the Strathclyde Inspire Summit: Reaching Beyond in May 2025.
Charles Huang, global business leader and Strathclyde alumnus, pictured with Sir Jim McDonald GBE. The University received a transformational £50 million gift from the Charles Huang Foundation, enabling the development of key entrepreneurial infrastructure and supporting student success through a range of academic initiatives.
The team from Strathclyde spin-out ENOUGH outside their state-of-the-art 150,000 square metre production facility, co-located with a Cargill site in Sas van Gent, The Netherlands.
Fergal Mackie, Strathclyde alumnus and Founder of Metacarpal, a prostheses design and manufacturing company dedicated to making a difference.
Holly Butler (pictured right), Chief Technical Officer at Dxcover, shares the company’s spin-out journey on Strathclyde Inspire’s Inspiring Entrepreneurs podcast.
The Entrepreneurial Strathclyder
Delegates at the Strathclyde Inspire Summit admiring the Inspiring Entrepreneurial People exhibition.
Natasha Chitambo, a Strathclyde student who has participated in the Exploring Entrepreneurship Programme, the Inspire Ambassador Programme, and worked as an Entrepreneurial Assistant at Strathclyde Students’ Union.
Alumnus & Entrepreneur Neil Logan, one of Strathclyde’s Senior Enterprise Fellows
The Strathclyde Inspire Hub, located at the heart of campus, a dedicated space for entrepreneurs to work, meet, and collaborate.
IMPACT STORY
Impacting lifes
At the University of Strathclyde, we believe entrepreneurship should do more than create value, it should change lives. Through Strathclyde Inspire, we’ve built a whole-university ecosystem that empowers people from every discipline to become entrepreneurial changemakers tackling the world’s most pressing challenges.
Our impact is global, and our ventures are delivering measurable, transformative change.
ENOUGH, a food sustainability spin-out, is scaling the production of ABUNDA® mycoprotein as a low-impact meat alternative. Their goal: one million tonnes by 2032, cutting five million tonnes of CO₂ and reducing reliance on animal agriculture (equivalent to replacing 5 million cows or 1 billion chickens).
Dxcover is revolutionising cancer diagnostics with its MOSA-Dx™ platform, which uses infrared light and AI to deliver same-day results from a blood sample. Since spinning out from Strathclyde in 2019, it has raised $21.4 million, including a recent $6.2 million round to expand into the UK, Europe, and the US.
Revive Eco is turning coffee waste into sustainable palm oil alternatives, tackling deforestation and reducing global emissions. Its patented process could produce coffee oil with up to three times fewer carbon emissions than palm oil, while diverting waste from landfill, potentially cutting CO₂ by 1.8 tonnes per tonne of grounds reused.
We’re not just focused on the future. Our legacy includes life-saving drugs like Atracurium and Leucovorin, and smart label tech from Insignia Technologies that reduces food waste across supply chains.
These achievements reflect our whole-university commitment to entrepreneurship as a driver of innovation, inclusion, and global impact.
LEARNINGS
Lessons learned
Our entrepreneurial spirit is reflected in the University’s values: bold; innovative; ambitious; people-oriented; and collaborative. Our values guide our institutional behaviour, ensuring long-term commitment to our entrepreneurial culture.
Our institution-wide entrepreneurship strategy, Strathclyde Inspire, sets out clear goals for creating an environment in which entrepreneurial people and ventures thrive. Executive-level approval of the strategy as an institutional priority was facilitated by senior leadership champions, including the University Principal.
To leverage University-wide enthusiasm, a cross-University working group of entrepreneurship advocates was created. Championed by our Associate Principal for Entrepreneurship & Education, the meetings stimulate discussion around new and developing proposals, providing a sense of ownership and accountability which extends beyond any one department.
External support has been equally important, both in terms of alignment with and contribution to local and national policies, and guidance from entrepreneurial leaders.
Our network of Inspire Supporters, enabled by our long-standing relationship with our Alumni & Development colleagues, includes experienced entrepreneurs who are willing to give their time to support the next generation; a small group of senior entrepreneurial fellows (SEFs) who help shape the evolution of the strategy; and donors.
We have secured £4.2 million in philanthropic support, in addition to £30 million for the creation of the Charles Huang Advanced Technology & Innovation Centre, which will house our Entrepreneurship Hub at the heart of the Glasgow City Innovation District. Philanthropy has been enabled by evidencing our own financial commitment, clear from our staff count, policy to financially reward academic entrepreneurs, and £7.5m investment fund.
FUTURE PLANS
What's coming?
The next phase of our strategy takes us to 2030 - a bold vision that builds on our successes to date and expands the transformative power of entrepreneurship to society at large. Launched on 30th May 2025 to an audience of over 300 ecosystem partners, investors, and supporters, Strathclyde Inspire: Reaching Beyond sets a new standard for entrepreneurship in higher education.
With video addresses from Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and Scottish Government’s Chief Entrepreneur Ana Stewart, the launch affirmed our national leadership and global ambition.
Grounded in world-class research and an evidence-based, inclusive approach, the strategy is built around three core commitments:
- Reach Beyond Business
We are extending our focus beyond start-ups to equip entrepreneurial thinkers across all disciplines with the skills and confidence to drive personal, professional, and societal success.
- Reach Beyond Convention
We will foster inclusive entrepreneurship by addressing structural bias, removing barriers, and enabling access for underrepresented and marginalised groups, ensuring entrepreneurship is accessible to all who seek it.
- Reach Beyond Our Walls
We will expand our network of strategic partnerships to generate greater economic and social impact at local, national, and international levels.
Our vision is to be globally recognised for setting a new benchmark in university entrepreneurship, empowering students, staff, and communities to lead transformative change and build sustainable, inclusive futures.
Our mission is to provide robust, inclusive support for entrepreneurial individuals and ventures at every stage of the journey, both within and beyond the University.
