IP2IPO acquires £20m Techtran Group

The University of Leeds' commercialisation partner, Techtran Group Ltd, has been acquired by IP2IPO in a deal which values Techtran at £20m. Techtran has been the University's sole technology transfer partner for two years after it signed a deal to provide outsourced commercialisation services in 2002. IP2IPO, an AIM quoted company that specialises in commercialising university intellectual property, signalled its interest in Techtran in July 2004, with a £2m strategic investment. In return, IP2IPO received a 20% interest in Techtran. The deal heralds the formation of a powerful new combination that will significantly strengthen the university's research commercialisation activities. The combined strengths of Techtran and IP2IPO are compelling: Techtran's key strengths lie in early-stage technology transfer, company building and business development. It has clear management processes that have enabled the creation and growth of thirteen spinout companies from the University of Leeds, a wide patent portfolio and a range of licensing deals and industrial partnership agreements. IP2IPO entered into its first university partnership with the University of Oxford, and subsequently agreed partnerships with the University of Southampton, Kings College London and the University of York. IP2IPO and the University of Leeds have already entered into discussions with respect to the establishment of a £5m venture capital fund for University of Leeds spinouts. The Techtran team will remain at their offices at Leeds Innovation Centre adjacent to the University campus, with chief executive Alan Aubrey and chief operating officer Dr Alison Fielding each taking a seat on the IP2IPO Board.

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