º£½ÇÉçÇø’s US hub launches with AI and robotics leaders in San Francisco
Leading scientists, engineers, investors and industry leaders have gathered in the US for the official launch of º£½ÇÉçÇø’s new hub in San Francisco. 
ImperiaGlobal 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 Imperiathe first UK university to have a permanent science and tech base on US soil.
"ImperiaGlobal 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 Imperiaspecial to prospective students." Professor Hugh Brady President of º£½ÇÉçÇø
The event, held at the headquarters of software and AI robotics company and hosted by Professor Hugh Brady and , 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 º£½ÇÉçÇø, said: “º£½ÇÉçÇø'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.
“ImperiaGlobal 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 Imperiaspecial 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 ImperiaGlobal USA's External Advisory Board, said: “º£½ÇÉçÇø's new hub is the perfect fit for the San Francisco ecosystem. As a world-leading STEM university which promotes entrepreneurship, Imperiawill 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 º£½ÇÉçÇø’s rapidly evolving innovation ecosystem, creating exciting opportunities for transatlantic partnerships”
ImperiaGlobal USA builds on º£½ÇÉçÇø’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 º£½ÇÉçÇø’s work.
"As a world-leading STEM university which promotes entrepreneurship, Imperiawill be able to ignite a powerful, two-way flow of ideas, capital, and talent, expanding collaborations with US universities and industry." Wendy Tan White CEO of Intrinsic
It will also increase opportunities for spinouts companies from Imperiato 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 Imperiaestablishing 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 ImperiaGlobal 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 Imperiawith partners, governments and knowledge organisations.
Launching the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein
The launch was preceded by the US launch of º£½ÇÉçÇø’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 º£½ÇÉçÇø, will advance research into precision fermentation, cultivated meat, bioprocessing and automation, nutrition, and AI and machine learning.
Imperiais 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, Imperiaresearchers.
" º£½ÇÉçÇø’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 º£½ÇÉçÇø’s new hub in the US will make collaboration even easier." Professor Mary Ryan Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise) at º£½ÇÉçÇø
The Bezos Centre launch event opened with a presentation from Centre Director and a discussion moderated by , º£½ÇÉçÇø’s Vice-Provost (Research & Enterprise), with industry experts from organisations such as and on developing sustainable foods.
Professor Mary Ryan, º£½ÇÉçÇø’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. º£½ÇÉçÇø’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 º£½ÇÉçÇø’s new hub in the US will make collaboration even easier.”
President Professor Hugh Brady said: “By bringing together biotech and sustainability expertise from º£½ÇÉçÇø, 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 Imperiafor deep tech translation and innovation.
"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 º£½ÇÉçÇø." Professor Hugh Brady President of º£½ÇÉçÇø
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 promoting the UK’s global reputation. Imperiais 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 ImperiaTechnology 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 º£½ÇÉçÇø.
“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, Imperiais 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 º£½ÇÉçÇø’s US trip, five startups led by women founders from º£½ÇÉçÇø’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 – º£½ÇÉçÇø's programme to support women-led startups. The programme, run by , 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 .
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Reporter
Conrad Duncan
Communications Division
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