Innovating the Future

Published: 26 July 2021

Innovating the Future initiative promotes social enterprise in academic spin-outs

How can we engage in increasingly uncertain times, and empower people to make a difference? Can we tackle this in a sustainable way, and how can your research transform society and the economy through commercialisation? 

The University is launching a new initiative called Innovating the Future to promote, develop and sustain social enterprise as an alternative set of models for academic spin out opportunities for all academic colleagues. Our goal is to build an innovative social entrepreneurial ecosystem, delivering high-impact world-leading research from all disciplinary foci to the populations who will benefit most.

To support those looking for new forms of innovation, new forms of support, training, and opportunities are required. The University’s IP & Commercialisation team has partnered with leading social enterprise support organisations such as Community Enterprise in Scotland, the UK’s largest and most experienced social enterprise support agency; MacRoberts, one of Scotland's leading law firms; and, the Challenges Group, an international business development consultancy, to bring support, training and international expertise to the development of a UofG evidenced-based social enterprise community.

Online Zoom Webinar

In this interactive 1-hour webinar, our partner organisations will explain all about social enterprise and its applicability for your research.

In the webinar we will cover:

  • Social enterprise - What is it?
  • Global view & trends
  • Drivers - Inclusive Growth & Sustainable Development Goals
  • Myth Busting: Intellectual Property, funding, structures
  • Internationalisation: Market scoping, market introductions, in-country support
  • Academic social enterprise examples
  • Development support
  • Q&A

There are a number of sessions being run at different times – please register via Eventbrite

Online Training Platform

We are also delighted to launch the Inclusive Innovation Programme, which is designed to support exploration of the social enterprise models. If you would like to learn more about defining your research as a business problem, how to build a business case or learning more about socially/ environmentally focused business models, the e-learning programme is comprised of 8 easy-to-follow, video-based courses with everything you need to know about social purpose business.


First published: 26 July 2021