Loughborough University
Midlands research university; co-founder of the first multi-university Midlands spinout fund.
Last refreshed: 15 June 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Can Loughborough's engineering and sports research produce the Midlands' first breakout spinouts?
Timeline for Loughborough University
Midlands fund writes its first cheques
UK Startups and Innovation- What is Loughborough University known for?
- Loughborough is primarily known for engineering, sports Science, and social policy. It has ranked first globally for sports-related subjects in the QS World University Rankings for ten consecutive years and places in the UK top ten overall.Source: QS World University Rankings
- What is Midlands Mindforge and which universities are involved?
- Midlands Mindforge is a £30m spinout investment fund backed by eight Midlands universities (Aston, Birmingham, Cranfield, Keele, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham, Warwick), UKRI, DSIT and the Rigby Group, which deployed its first investments in June 2026.Source: UKRI
- Where is Loughborough University located?
- Loughborough University is based in Loughborough, Leicestershire, England, with a second campus at Here East, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, opened in 2015.Source: Wikipedia
- How many students does Loughborough University have?
- Loughborough University had 18,955 students in 2024/25, comprising 15,490 undergraduates and 3,470 postgraduates.Source: Loughborough University
Background
Loughborough University became one of eight co-founding institutions of Midlands Mindforge when the £30m spinout fund deployed its first investments in June 2026, announced by Lord Vallance at the UK Global R&D and Science Investment Summit . The fund targets the spinout capital gap between the Midlands and the Oxford-Cambridge-London Golden Triangle that has dominated British university commercialisation for a decade.
Founded in 1909 as Loughborough Technical Institute, Loughborough received university status by royal charter in 1966. Its 18,955 students (2024/25) study on a single campus in Loughborough, Leicestershire, with a second site at Here East, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London. The university has ranked first globally for sports-related subjects in the QS World University Rankings by Subject for ten consecutive years (2017–2026), and places in the UK top ten overall in the Complete University Guide. Research income stands at £57m in grants and contracts. Chancellor Sebastian Coe held the post from 2018.
Beyond sport, Loughborough is strong in engineering, materials Science, and social policy. Its inclusion in Midlands Mindforge alongside Birmingham, Warwick, Nottingham and four others marks its first formal multi-university commercialisation consortium, broadening a commercialisation track record built largely within its own Sports Technology Institute.