Commercialisation and impact in Life Sciences

We are committed to ensuring that our research has a real and significant impact on the quality of people’s lives – their health, the economy and the environment.

metal machine glowing blue
4th in the UK for the volume of equity secured by its spin-outs (£251M)

Parkwalk-Beauhurst 2022

5th in the UK for its record of turning research into world-changing companies

Octopus Ventures 2021

The School's global reputation for research excellence has enabled us to forge important strategic partnerships and attract inward investment from industrial collaborators as well as create new high-growth life sciences spin-out companies.

This has had significant local impacts, stimulating the emergence of a regional life sciences cluster which makes a major contribution to the Tay Cities regional economy.

Our activity is supported by the specialist team in Research and Innovation Services.

Translation and collaboration with industry and external organisations

Whilst basic research is at the core of what we do, we work in collaboration with a variety of external stakeholders to translate our work to solve “real world” problems. Three examples from the School that exemplify this work are:
Drug Discovery Unit Division of Signal Transduction Therapy Exploiting protein degradation technologies

Nurturing new talent and business ideas

Life Sciences lab

We are committed to supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs. New talent has opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge by participating in initiatives at the School, University and National level. These will guide them through the process from idea to spin-out and beyond.

Find out how we nurture talent

Start-ups and spin-outs

A view of Dundee from Tayport, a village over the River, with the Tay Road Bridge to the left

We have a successful record in launching spin-out companies which has helped drive the establishment of a life sciences cluster which makes a major contribution to the Tay Cities regional economy.

Our start-ups and spin-outs
Work with us

We offer our decades of expertise to external clients and also offer access to our world-class facilities.

Find out how you can work with us

Enterprise news

Press release

Lifetime Achievement Award caps glory night for University

Professor Sir Mike Ferguson, one of Scotland’s pre-eminent scientists, was recognised for his outstanding research career when he received a Lifetime Achievement Award during a night of celebration for the University of Dundee.

  • Published on 13 March 2026
View all stories
Innovation and Knowledge Exchange awards in Life Sciences
View our Innovation and Knowledge Exchange award winners