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About us

Breadcrumb

  1. Queen Mary University of London
  2. About us
  3. Sustainability
  4. Sustainable development goals
  5. Goal 9: Industry Innovation and Infrastructure
  6. Engagement

Engagement

Supporting students and graduates to start businesses 

Queen Mary supports aspiring entrepreneurs through QUEST, Queen Mary Entrepreneurship Support and Training. QUEST connects students and graduates with enterprise programmes, events, funding opportunities and other support for developing a business idea. Queen Mary’s wider entrepreneurship support includes programmes that help people test ideas, understand markets and build the skills needed to create and grow a venture. 

Helping new ventures grow 

Queen Mary also supports businesses that develop from university research. Its commercialisation work includes intellectual property support, licensing and spin-out development, with more than 35 spin-out companies created from Queen Mary research. This support helps researchers move ideas from academic work into businesses that can develop products, services and technologies for wider use. 

Connecting students with businesses and social enterprises 

Queen Mary Business School’s Entrepreneurship Hub connects students with organisations through practical projects. Live Consultancy Projects bring students together with SMEs, start-ups and social enterprises, while other projects give students experience of working on challenges set by external partners. The organisations involved receive research, analysis and ideas from Queen Mary students, while students gain experience of working with real clients. 

Learning how social investment works 

The Queen Mary Social Venture Fund gives students practical experience of social-impact investment. Students receive training in venture capital and impact investing before working with early-stage businesses, carrying out due diligence and assessing their potential social and financial impact. The Fund invests £15,000 in the winning social venture each year. Students gain experience of real investment decisions, while early-stage businesses receive funding and support to develop their ideas. 

Working with East London 

Queen Mary also connects innovation with the needs of the communities around it. Through the East London Civic Action Network, the University brings together researchers, businesses, councils, healthcare organisations, charities and local communities. The network was launched in 2024 and provides a way for organisations across East London to work together on shared priorities. Queen Mary is also a delivery partner in the National Civic Impact Accelerator, which supports universities across the UK to strengthen their contribution to local social, economic and environmental priorities. 

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