Collaboration involving Leicester to drive business growth

Leicester is part of a consortium to accelerate the development and commercialisation of innovative research within the Midlands.  

The Midlands innovation Commercialisation of Research Accelerator (MICRA) brings together the strengths of the eight Midlands Innovation universities - Aston, Birmingham, Cranfield, Keele, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham and Warwick. 

The Midlands Innovation universities generate more new inventions and patents per unit of research income than any other leading group of UK universities. The MICRA programme is awarded £5million through Research England’s Connecting Capability Fund (CCF) to drive forward world-class university commercialisation across the country.

This is the second project involving Leicester that has been announced under Research England’s Connecting Capability Fund.  Leicester is also the University lead in an initiative to enhance research and innovation in the UK space industry.

Professor Iain Gillespie, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, said: “It is hugely impressive that Leicester is involved in two multi-million pound projects funded by Research England that will drive innovation, business success and economic growth.

“The CCF investment into the Midlands through MICRA provides an exciting opportunity for the University of Leicester and the Midlands universities to work together and optimise the R&D and innovation potential of our region and to help grow the UK economy."