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WORLD LEADING BUSINESS SUPPORT

ABOUT SETsquared

South and South West
Innovation Supercluster

SETsquared is the enterprise partnership of the universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey.

Together, we form the fastest-growing innovation ecosystem in the UK, connecting world-leading research and entrepreneurial talent with specialist business support, industry networks and investment.

Our six-university partnership brings together expertise across the frontier sectors identified in the Modern Industrial Strategy, including health and life sciences, digital and technologies, clean energy industries, advanced manufacturing and defence.

By sharing expertise, assets and best practice, we create a powerful pipeline of deep-tech and research-led ventures – helping them start, scale and stay in our regions.

Delivering impact since 2002

5,000+ entrepreneurs supported since 2002
£5bn+ raised by supported companies
£15.7bn contributed to the UK economy
15,600 jobs created
230 spin-outs

Support at every stage

Through our six university-based Business Acceleration Centres and national, regional and sector-focused programmes, around 500 companies access SETsquared support each year.

Our flexible support covers the full commercialisation journey:

Ideation: exploring commercial potential, IP and spin-out formation
Acceleration: mentoring, investment readiness, facilities, peer support
Scale: connecting companies with investors, corporates and talent

We also build practical tools like the Deal Readiness Toolkit, helping founders, universities, lawyers and investors close spin-out and licensing deals faster and RAISE an online investment campaign framework, to help founders successfully raise investment.

Connecting innovation with investment

We help founders become investment-ready while giving investors the knowledge, insight and confidence to engage with emerging technologies.

By shaping credible investment opportunities, translating investor expectations into practical guidance, and supporting meaningful connections between innovators and funders, we help bridge the gap between groundbreaking ideas and commercial success. We also encourage greater participation from new and non-specialist investors, making innovation more accessible and understandable.

In doing so, we are helping to broaden and strengthen the UK investment base, creating a more diverse, resilient and dynamic innovation ecosystem.

Find out about the opportunity for investors

Driving regional growth

The South and South West have the research excellence, entrepreneurial talent and innovation pipeline needed to drive the UK’s future economy. Our role is to ensure that ambitious companies can access the support and capital they need to stay and scale here.

By connecting universities, founders, investors, industry and government, SETsquared is strengthening the UK innovation landscape, attracting investment and creating high-value jobs.

Together, we are strengthening the South and South West Innovation Supercluster as a globally recognised centre for research commercialisation and deep-tech growth.