Written by Lynn O'Byrne
UCL: Ten university startups take part in UK-Swiss entrepreneurship exchange
The UK-Swiss Entrepreneurship Exchange Programme 2025, a partnership between UCL and EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, with support from Innovaud and the Swiss and British embassies, is helping early-stage ventures expand globally. The programme features groundbreaking startups, from cancer therapy tools to wearable devices for early diagnosis and cryogenic electronics for quantum computing. This year, five EPFL startups visited UCL in September, followed by five UCL ventures in Switzerland in November, engaging with investors, mentors, and industry leaders to build lasting collaborations. Read more.
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Derby: Banks Mill Studios
Banks Mill Studios, the University of Derby’s creative industries incubator recently showcased its artists and makers, including students and graduates in their annual Open Studios event.
Kicking off with a festive VIP event recent graduate, Rebecca Johnstone welcomed guests with her singing, performing original tracks as well as launching her new business, Between the Notes music therapy. It enabled the University’s student residency winners to showcase their work for the first time, with the event officially opened by Donald Yerima a third year fashion student, who has set up his clothing brand, Trapmass, along with fellow winners. Read more.
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NTU: Trent Institute for Learning and Teaching (TILT) event
On Wednesday 26 November, NTU Enterprise at Nottingham Trent University hosted the first Trent Institute for Learning and Teaching (TILT) event of 2025, designed to raise awareness and offer support for students interested in launching their own business ventures. NTU Sport Management alumni returned to share their experiences, with graduates Mykah Skervin, Callum Foster and Jess Norville outlining their entrepreneurial journeys and offering practical suggestions for embedding enterprise more fully across NTU degree programmes. They also highlighted valuable ways to increase student awareness of the support NTU Enterprise provides for new start-ups. For more information, please follow the link.
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Professor David A Kirby – recognition of his global pioneering contribution to EE
In January the International Council for Small Business announced its annual Power 10 list of visionary leaders, dynamic entrepreneurs and transformative changemakers responsible for advancing entrepreneurship as a force for economic progress and societal transformation worldwide. Professor David A Kirby was included in the list in recognition of his global pioneering contribution to Entrepreneurship Education and as the originator of the Harmonious Entrepreneurship paradigm. Each of the 10 leaders in the list is recognised not just for advancing Entrepreneurship as an economic engine but as a force for human dignity, opportunity and sustainable development.
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King’s Women Entrepreneurs Business Retreat Applications
The annual KCL WEN Business Retreat is coming up on the 27th Feb, 1st & 2nd of March. We’re offering spaces to EEUK founder communities to join us for a weekend of learning and growth. We have limited places available but will accept applications from up to 3 members from an individual university community (whilst spaces are available).
For more information and to apply please fill in this form (https://forms.office.com/e/dCTPP0QViY) or contact Jess on Jessica.horwill@kcl.ac.uk
Applications close: 23:59 UK time, 16th February 2026. Please note this is a free event but is only held in person and in Central London. No travel or accommodation is provided.
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UCL MSc Bioscience Innovation and Enterprise
UCL MSc Bioscience Innovation and Enterprise is delighted to be expanding student intake for 2026. Based at one of UCL’s key translational departments (Ophthalmology), our alumni careers are showing that bespoke science enterprise teaching works. The degree is becoming a valuable pivot point for those who want to work with, rather than in, science, and make a real-world difference. Content stays close to the science/business interface – how to interrogate science for innovation and link that opportunity to business. We’re keen to bring in guest lecturers from other regions to fuel growth, so please contact f.reid@ucl.ac.uk or direct science students to an Open Event.