Economic Impact

New analysis confirms value of UKI2S investing public money to commercialise public science

UKI2S has had considerable success in fulfilling its dual mandate and is recognised as one of the leading early stage technology investors in the UK in terms of both financial and economic performance.

In order to fully demonstrate the capability of the Fund, SQW, a leading independent provider of research and analysis, was commissioned to conduct an independent study on its economic and wider benefits.

The report makes it clear that UKI2S investment “helps companies to become established and/or to develop in ways that would not have happened otherwise” and “the role played by UKI2S extends far beyond simply the funds provided through investment”.

The report analysis shows:

• Over three-quarters (78%) of the 57 companies in the portfolio would not have been established or would have ceased to operate without UKI2S support
• The Fund has invested £15 million and leveraged 34 times that into its portfolio with over £500 million from private co-investors
• Over 50% of the portfolio companies’ funding is spent on R&D
• Around 95% of all sales by portfolio companies are exported, totalling almost £170m of goods and services
• 57% of UKI2S portfolio companies are outside London and the South-East.
• Over 770 jobs have been created by portfolio companies of which 300 were directly attributable to the Fund’s role
• Successful exit of three portfolio companies recently with proceeds recycled into new investments

When compared with a previous report by SQW, the analysis demonstrates the sustained economic and wider impact of the Fund.