NEW COLLABORATION AGREEMENT TO ENHANCE CROSS-BORDER COLLABORATIONS IN TECHNOLOGY AND IP EDUCATION

City of Glasgow College and the Scottish Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Exchange are delighted to announce the third round of IPHatch® UK.

Launching the competition on Friday 21st March at the college’s City Campus, the college welcomed starts ups, ecosystem partners, as well as multi-national corporations including NEC Corporation, Nokia Technologies and Panasonic. 

Key actors in Scotland and Glasgow's innovation ecosystems joined our technology corporations at a roundtable discussion beforehand to discuss “how Glasgow unlocks growth through regional collaborations and innovation clusters.”, hosted by our Depute Principal & COO Roy Gardner,

The pioneering competition, organised by Piece Futures Ltd. in collaboration with key partners including Scottish Enterprise, the event marks the continuation of the completion by gathering industry and civic partners and entrepreneurs, eager to find out the technology patents being made available to the next wave of Scottish tech entrepreneurs.

There was enthusiasm about the impact of the competition on the regional and national innovation landscape, emphasising the importance of cross-sector collaboration in driving economic growth, technological progress, and start-up success.

The event saw a tri-party Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) being signed between Piece Futures Ltd., City of Glasgow College and the Scottish Institute of Innovation & Knowledge Exchange to explore collaborations in technology and IP awareness & education, industry-education collaborations and strategic cross-border collaborations, talent development & matchmaking and the provision of resources for business incubation.

Roy Gardner, Depute Principal & COO at City of Glasgow College said:

"City of Glasgow College is proud to be at the heart of Scotland's innovation ecosystem, supporting initiatives like IPHatchUK that create tangible opportunities for start-ups and entrepreneurs. This MOU demonstrates our commitment to fostering cutting-edge technology collaborations, equipping the next generation with the skills and resources they need to drive forward innovation and economic growth."

Jason Loh, CEO, Piece Futures ltd. added:

"It’s truly remarkable to mark our third year of IPHatch UK, bolstered by the steadfast support of City of Glasgow College, Scottish Enterprise, and our incredible ecosystem partners. This journey has spotlighted exceptional startups that have not only emerged but thrived through the IPHatch program. The MOU exploring the establishment of a groundbreaking Centre of Excellence for IP at the Riverside Innovation Centre is a testament to the city’s trailblazing spirit of innovation. We are absolutely thrilled and driven to create an even greater legacy of impact!"

Francisco Gomez, Business Development & Strategy at Nokia Technologies, added:

"I was delighted to participate in the IP Hatch UK launch in collaboration with the City of Glasgow College and the Scottish Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Exchange. The highlight for me was meeting some of the startups that participate in the program. It was inspiring to hear their innovation stories.

Since 2018 Nokia has empowered start-ups by assigning a selection of our industry-leading technology patents as “seed capital” in return for an equity stake through IP Hatch. For start-ups, this can be transformative, as it cuts down the research and development stage, accelerating the path from vision to realization of a business, and makes sure that the idea and vision are protected from the outset. "

IPHatchUK® aims to uncover new solutions underpinned by intellectual property across various sectors, ranging from digital transformation, security, sustainability, data analytics, A/V communications and AI robotics. The competition provides a platform for start-ups to harness their innovative ideas and collaborate with industry giants, potentially turning concepts into commercial and sustainability success stories.

The launch event included insightful panel discussions featuring representatives from civic and corporate partners, and the opportunity to network with collaborators and mentors.

As the competition kicks off, start-ups and entrepreneurs are encouraged to submit their applications by 30 September 2025, with the chance of not only gaining access to unique IP but the potential for further support and investment.

More details on the patent portfolios and the application process can be found on the IPHatchUK® website.