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Forging Ahead report showcases Coventry University's contribution to Midlands innovation
Coventry University is playing a major part in turning research ideas into real-world impact
Research news
Thursday 17 September 2026
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A new report has highlighted Coventry University's role in a major Midlands partnership helping researchers turn their ideas into business opportunities.
The £9.9 million Research England-funded Forging Ahead partnership, launched in May 2025, brings together 16 universities to help more research-led ideas reach the market.
The programme's first annual report highlights the power of collaboration in building a stronger regional innovation ecosystem, enabling universities to share expertise, support researchers and create clearer pathways from research to business.
Coventry University has played an active role in the partnership through its involvement in the Forging Ahead Council, helping shape discussions around innovation and turning research into real-world impact across the region.
The report also highlights Coventry University's contribution to the partnership through pilot programmes, specialist training, networking opportunities and business support for researchers and professional staff.
Research has the greatest impact when it creates positive change beyond academia. Through Forging Ahead, Coventry University researchers are gaining access to valuable expertise, development programmes and networks that can help turn innovative ideas into real-world impact.
The partnership demonstrates what can be achieved when universities work together to support innovation across the Midlands.
Professor Richard Dashwood, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) at Coventry University
The real opportunity through Forging Ahead is to build a stronger, more connected commercialisation ecosystem across the Midlands – one that helps promising research move beyond the university and towards adoption, investment and growth.
Through the Council and wider partnership, we are sharing practical experience across the full commercialisation journey, from identifying opportunities and developing commercial capability through to licensing, spin-out formation, investor readiness and connecting emerging ventures with the right expertise and networks.
For Coventry University this is very much a two-way exchange. We are contributing what we are learning through our own commercialisation activity, while bringing insight and good practice from partners back into the university. Collectively, that gives us an opportunity to strengthen the pipeline of investable opportunities emerging from universities across the Midlands and increase the economic and societal impact of that research.
Albi Lamaj, Associate Director of IP and Commercialisation at Coventry University and a member of the Forging Ahead Council
The report highlights Dr Anna Bogush, Associate Professor at Coventry University's Research Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, as an example of how the programme is helping researchers turn promising ideas into real-world opportunities.
Dr Bogush took part in the Medici Enterprise Training programme while exploring ways to develop her research beyond academia.
I joined the programme because I had a research idea with real potential but needed support to understand what to do next. Medici gave me practical skills, confidence and a much better understanding of how to turn an idea into a viable project.
The programme helped shape my H2R – Portable Circular System for Greywater & Rainwater Treatment and Reuse project, which has since secured UKRI Proof of Concept funding. It also changed the way I think about my research and the impact it can have beyond the university.
Dr Anna Bogush, from the Research Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience
Other activities highlighted in the report include an exchange of learning between DigiSpinWM and VentureVersity, a regional initiative that helps researchers explore ways to develop ideas arising from their research. As part of the development of the expanded VentureVersity programme, the team visited Coventry University to exchange learning on the delivery of VentureVersity and DigiSpinWM.
Coventry University has also taken part in the IP 2 SME pilot, which connects university researchers with small and medium-sized businesses to explore opportunities for collaboration. Members of the university's innovation team have also shared knowledge and experience with colleagues from across the Midlands through a range of peer-learning activities.
The Forging Ahead partnership runs until 2030 and will continue to expand programmes and networks that support researchers, entrepreneurs and innovation across the Midlands.
Read the full report and find out more about research and business opportunities at Coventry University.
