Inclusive Growth: Turning Innovation into Shared Prosperity

Across the UK, regions are rich in research, creativity, and ambition—but too often, the economic and social value of that innovation remains locked inside labs or corporate pipelines. Inclusive growth means changing that equation. It means ensuring that innovation doesn’t just create new technologies, but new opportunities, jobs, and local ownership of the value they generate.

At WeFoundry, we believe inclusive growth starts when innovation is deployed where it matters most - in communities, not just markets.

From Innovation to Deployment

Our Innovation Deployment Framework (IDF) is built to activate the assets of a region—its universities, public sector institutions, and local businesses—and link them to global innovation pipelines. Rather than focusing solely on invention, the framework focuses on deployment: how proven technologies can be adapted, piloted, and scaled to solve real regional challenges in health, energy, mobility, and housing.

This approach transforms innovation from a distant concept into a practical driver of economic resilience.

The Role of Universities

Universities hold vast reservoirs of intellectual property (IP), often underutilised beyond the academic or licensing environment. Through our University IP–Led Special Purpose Entity (SPE) model, we turn that IP into living, breathing ventures that operate in real-world context, creating companies that are not only commercially viable but also locally anchored.

Each SPE is structured to ensure that:

• The university retains ownership of its IP while benefiting from equity in the venture.

• Local SMEs and mission-aligned investors share in the value created.

• Public-sector partners help define the challenges that these innovations address.

• Regional communities benefit through new jobs, training, and sustainable outcomes.

  
  

This shared structure ensures that prosperity generated through innovation remains in the places that need it most.

A Network for Shared Prosperity

As these university-led SPEs multiply, they become part of a wider Innovation Deployment Network, a system of connected ventures and partners that exchange knowledge, data, and best practices. Each node reinforces the others, enabling regions to grow stronger together rather than competing for isolated wins.

The impact is tangible:

• Universities gain new research income and stronger REF and KEF outcomes.

• Businesses access new commercial pathways and customers.

• Communities gain high-value employment and regional investment.

• The public sector sees measurable returns in efficiency, sustainability, and wellbeing.

  
  

The Future of Inclusive Growth

True inclusion means participation, ownership, and benefit. When innovation is deployed with intention, aligning university expertise, entrepreneurial execution, and regional ambition—it becomes a mechanism for shared prosperity.

Inclusive growth isn’t just an economic outcome; it’s a design principle.And it’s one we’re building into every innovation WeFoundry helps bring to life.