Enterprise Investment Scheme Association awards Imperial College London inaugural spinouts award
The Enterprise Investment Scheme Association (EISA) has expanded its annual awards programme to recognise the critical role that UK universities play in building the nation’s innovation economy. At the 2026 EISA Awards, held at the House of Lords, the association debuted a brand-new category: Best University for Entrepreneurship and Spinout Support.
Sponsored by Parkwalk, this new category acknowledges universities that excel at bridging the gap between groundbreaking academic research and commercial market success. Imperial College London was named the inaugural winner, alongside the highly commended University of Edinburgh, for its outstanding contribution. The award’s highly competitive shortlist also included Swansea University, the University of Exeter, and the University of Strathclyde.
A substantial portion of early-stage funding into deep-tech and life science ventures relies directly on the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS). Data from Beauhurst’s EIS 30th Anniversary Research Report highlights that more than 40% of all UK academic spinouts have utilised EIS or SEIS funding to navigate their crucial early growth phases and secure seed-stage capital.
These government schemes have been foundational in scaling some of the UK’s most valuable spinout companies. The ecosystem has celebrated historic, landmark successes by market leaders such as Oxgene (exited for £135m) and PetMedix, demonstrating the massive global scale that UK University-born technology can achieve when backed by robust investor networks.
The 2026 EISA Awards featured 15 distinct categories celebrating excellence across the investment landscape, with Sage as the headline sponsor.
Christiana Stewart-Lockhart, Director General of Enterprise Investment Scheme Associations says: “Universities play a crucial role in the UK’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. It is where many of the country’s most innovative businesses start and it is often down to the support universities provide, from commercialising world-leading research to mentoring first-time founders, that turns brilliant ideas into thriving businesses. A huge number of these companies go on to raise investment through the SEIS and EIS, creating jobs and driving economic growth across the whole of the UK. We launched this award to recognise and celebrate that invaluable contribution.
We were hugely impressed by the strength of all our finalists, which speaks volumes about the quality of entrepreneur and spinout support across the UK’s universities. My warmest congratulations go to Imperial College London, a very deserving winner, and to the University of Edinburgh, highly commended for its outstanding contribution. Both exemplify the vital role universities play in the ecosystem, and we look forward to celebrating many more institutions in the years ahead.”
Ben Mumby-Croft, Director of Entrepreneurship, Imperial College London says:” Imperial is thrilled to be named Best University for Entrepreneurship and Spinout Support at the 2026 EISA Awards – these awards play a vital role in championing the founders, investors and advisers who are building the UK’s early-stage innovation economy.
At Imperial, entrepreneurship isn’t a bolt-on, it’s embedded in our “Science for Humanity” mission, and this recognition is a real vote of confidence in the ecosystem our community has worked so hard to build.
Since 2019, Imperial has launched 61 spinouts and 216 startups, with more than £1 billion raised across our venture portfolio, and our dedicated EIS fund has already backed 15 Imperial-connected companies that have gone on to secure over £56 million in follow-on investment.
I’m incredibly proud of what our founders, mentors and partners have achieved together – and excited about what this award will help us unlock next.”
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