Rich Ferrie

The University of Manchester Intellectual Property Ltd. (UMIP) manages intellectual property for the University of Manchester. Formed in 2004, UMIP is a limited company wholly-owned by the University and located in Manchester, UK. They operate independently of the University. The University traces their history back to 1851 and more recently to 2004 when the University formally combined with UMIST (University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology) to create a single university. UMIP acts as a technology transfer company in the UK. They have access to proof of concept funds to develop very early stage inventions to a phase where they become propositions capable of attracting investments. They also have investment funds to develop young start-up companies, along with the skills and network necessary to draw in the larger sums of external venture capital. UMIP works with researchers, entrepreneurs, business people, professional advisers and investors to achieve their goals.

Gelmetix Ltd. offers a non-surgical procedure for the treatment of chronic lower back pain caused by degenerative disc disease. The firm develops a hydrogel to relieve back pain by enabling cells in the spinal disc to get back to normal functioning, which can be injected into the disc by a healthcare professional and replaces the need for invasive back surgery. The company was founded by Tony Freemont and Brian Saunders in 2012 and is headquartered in Cheshire, the United Kingdom.