Stockport Council  - Universities & Research

Stockport is in close proximity to the five universities within the Manchester City Region, with a student population of over 100,000; Manchester University, Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Salford, the University of Bolton and University Centre Oldham. These universities combine to form one of the largest student populations in the UK and Europe.

The University of Manchester, a recognised world-class institution, has had a long reputation for pioneering research, and a strong history of association with the business community in research and development. The University has been able to offer wide ranging consultancy expertise, from business, management and engineering, through to the physical sciences.

A key part of this has lead to the development of enterprise as an element of the University activities. This has developed in two branches: Firstly, the commercialisation of its intellectual property, managed through University of Manchester Intellectual Property Ltd (UMIP) company, which facilities transfer of intellectual property between the business and academic worlds, to convert into commercial application through licensing. Secondly, the university, through its company the University of Manchester Incubator Company (UMIC), has developed incubator facilities - an environment to foster and nurture young businesses.

A key location for UMIC incubator is within Stockport, based at Broadstone Mill, which provides solutions to support incubating companies. The tenant firms within the incubator are primarily from the knowledge-based sector, e.g. technology, internet, media and creative sectors. The objective of the incubator is to establish a focused environment for guidance and technical assistance with new and existing companies, through local networks and the expertise of UMIC.