Imperial Global USA – the university’s first physical presence in the US – has been launched with a pledge to create 100 new US-UK science and technology partnerships in 2025.
The new hub makes Imperial the first UK university to have a permanent science and tech base on US soil.
The event, held at the headquarters of software and AI robotics company Intrinsic and hosted by Professor Hugh Brady and Wendy Tan White, CEO of Intrinsic, brought together leading figures in science and technology to explore partnership opportunities in key areas of AI, robotics, cleantech, biotech, and engineering biology.
Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London, said: “Imperial's long-standing connections with California have already produced fantastic research, from technologies for AI-enabled healthcare to sustainable materials to support the world’s transition to renewable energy.
“Imperial Global USA will play an important role in advancing our work in North America - strengthening our partnerships with US academia and industry, supporting our growing US alumni network, and showcasing more of what makes Imperial special to prospective students. By bringing more of our world-changing research closer to Silicon Valley, we can maximise our impact as a force for good in the world.”
Speaking earlier this week, Wendy Tan White, CEO of Intrinsic and Chair of Imperial Global USA's External Advisory Board, said: “Imperial College London's new hub is the perfect fit for the San Francisco ecosystem. As a world-leading STEM university which promotes entrepreneurship, Imperial will be able to ignite a powerful, two-way flow of ideas, capital, and talent, expanding collaborations with US universities and industry. At the same time, it offers Silicon Valley a bridge into Imperial’s rapidly evolving innovation ecosystem, creating exciting opportunities for transatlantic partnerships”
Imperial Global USA builds on Imperial’s long-standing connections with California. It will make it easier for innovators partnering on both sides of the Atlantic to fund and scale their research and maximising the impact of Imperial’s work.
It will also increase opportunities for spinouts companies from Imperial to accelerate their success and open up opportunities for more student exchanges between California and London.
Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, said: “California is a gateway for innovation and entrepreneurship, and Imperial College London establishing its first-ever US hub in San Francisco is a win-win.
“This illustrates the power of international partnerships, bringing together top minds in science and technology to tackle the world’s toughest challenges — from climate solutions to advanced healthcare. Together, we’re creating opportunities for innovation that will not only benefit California but also drive progress that reaches far beyond our borders.”
The Imperial Global USA hub in San Francisco is one part of a network of hubs in key cities around the world which will build long-term collaborations for Imperial with partners, governments and knowledge organisations.
Launching the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein
The launch was preceded by the US launch of Imperial’s Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein, which brought together biotech and sustainability experts in San Francisco.
The Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein, which spans seven academic departments at Imperial, will advance research into precision fermentation, cultivated meat, bioprocessing and automation, nutrition, and AI and machine learning.
Imperial is a world-leader in engineering biology research, with ongoing research to create new technologies for engineering microbial food, developing gene therapy tools, breaking down plastics, and transforming glycan biomanufacture for health. This year, UKRI awarded millions of pounds in funding for engineering biology projects which are led by, or involve, Imperial researchers.
The Bezos Centre launch event opened with a presentation from Centre Director Dr Rodrigo Ledesma Amaro and a discussion moderated by Professor Mary Ryan, Imperial’s Vice-Provost (Research & Enterprise), with industry experts from organisations such as The Good Food Institute and NASA on developing sustainable foods.
Professor Mary Ryan, Imperial’s Vice-Provost (Research & Enterprise), said: “Creating enough food that’s affordable, nutritious, economically viable and suitable for the environment is one of the major challenges of our time. Imperial’s Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein will bring us closer to a world where people can access nutritious food without negatively impacting our climate and natural environment, while Imperial’s new hub in the US will make collaboration even easier.”
President Professor Hugh Brady said: “By bringing together biotech and sustainability expertise from Imperial, a global top ten university driving groundbreaking research, and from San Francisco’s innovation ecosystem, we can tackle food insecurity and climate change head on.”
Deep tech innovation at GBx Gala
To conclude the US visit, Professor Brady will be join leaders in British tech at the GREAT GBx Gala in San Francisco later this week, where he will present an award sponsored by Imperial for deep tech translation and innovation.
The GREAT GBx Gala is an annual gathering for British founders, investors, and industry experts to celebrate the best of British technology, run in collaboration with the UK Government’s GREAT Campaign promoting the UK’s global reputation. Imperial is the first university to join the GBx network of leading investors, entrepreneurs and tech executives.
Many of the world’s biggest challenges – such as tackling climate change, building health resilience, and preserving biodiversity – depend on the development of technologies based on fundamental science and engineering innovations often known as ‘Deep Tech’.
The Imperial Technology Innovation Impact Award recognises the most outstanding examples of deep tech innovation that have successfully made the journey from research labs to the commercial marketplace in the San Francisco Bay Area.
President Professor Hugh Brady said: “The solutions that we need to tackle urgent global challenges are often built on fundamental science and engineering breakthroughs - many of which have been made at world-leading academic institutions like Imperial.
“We are proud to be supporting this award which celebrates innovations that are driving economic growth and creating real societal benefits. Through initiatives like our Institute for Deep Tech Entrepreneurship, Imperial is committed to nurturing the growth of the entire Deep Tech ecosystem and finding more ways to turn outstanding research into outstanding real-world impact.”
Women founders in San Francisco
As part of Imperial’s US trip, five startups led by women founders from Imperial’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem travelled to San Francisco to meet potential investors and industry stakeholders.
The startups, which are working on businesses to address health and sustainability issues, attended networking events and visited incubators and accelerators in San Francisco - the centre of global venture capital.
The five startups were:
- Resting Reef – an eco-friendly memorial service that creates reef structures from human ashes and crushed oyster shells which nourish and enhance marine growth.
- Untap – an early warning system that can monitor health in real-time using data from sewage, tracking viral outbreaks before symptoms have been identified.
- P. Happi – a biotech company producing a non-antibiotic serum that helps to reduce the risk of recurrent bladder and intimate infections for women.
- EnAcuity - the first software-only solution for medical hyperspectral imaging which can be used to prevent injuries during laparoscopies (keyhole surgery).
- Nourisol – a company developing products based on algae from farmers’ soils which capture nitrogen from the atmosphere to replace synthetic fertilisers.
The startups’ visit to San Francisco was organised to celebrate 10 years of WE Innovate – Imperial's programme to support women-led startups. The programme, run by Imperial Enterprise Lab, is a targeted pre-accelerator which aims to support the next generation of women entrepreneurs and help them develop new businesses through coaching, mentoring, and business skills masterclasses.
Since 2014, WE Innovate has supported more than 60 women-led startups, which have gone on to raise more than £37.5 million.
More information on WE Innovate can be found on the Imperial Enterprise Lab’s website.
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