Spin-out portfolio impresses Nottingham MP on visit to campus

Lilian Greenwood, the Labour MP for Nottingham South, visited Terra Motion, one of the University of Nottingham’s innovative spin-out companies on Friday 17 January, to learn more about their work in the field of land motion surveyance.

Terra Motion, which specialises in providing crucial data on ground stability and natural hazards for environmental monitoring, property transactions, insurance, and infrastructure projects, are one of a wide portfolio of spin-out companies supported by the university’s Intellectual Property and Commercialisation (IPCO) office.

Based at the Ingenuity Centre on Jubilee Campus, Terra Motion’s expertise spans risks from peat shrinkage and soft soils to monitoring the environmental impact on a range of assets including reservoirs, pipelines, roads, and railways. They also manage sub-surface assets such as oil and gas sites and geothermal locations, as well as studying peatland surface dynamics for climate change research.

George Rice, Head of Commercialisation at UoN, met Lilian, who is also Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Transport, as part of a broader effort to highlight how the university is driving local growth by supporting cutting-edge research and fostering the development of spin-out companies like Terra Motion. The IPCO’s Nottingham Technology Ventures team has launched more than 30 such companies, many of which are based in or around Greenwood’s constituency.

The growth of these companies not only advances research but also strengthens the region’s economy, positioning Nottingham at the forefront of modern scientific innovation.

George said: “Lilian expressed her admiration for the university’s contributions to the development of new commercial products and services enabled through spin-out company creation and through licensing of intellectual property. Through these activities, the University of Nottingham has earned its reputation as a sector leader in translating research into practical, real-world applications.”

Commenting during her visit, Lilian said: “It’s a real pleasure to see up close and personal some of the exciting technological developments happening right in my constituency. Through Terra Motion, and other ventures like it, the university is at the forefront of growth and is spearheading real change in society. I look forward to seeing the impact of all this work in the months and years ahead”.

Lilian’s visit also aligns with the ongoing efforts of Midlands Mindforge, a UK-based initiative that fosters innovation and collaboration across the Midlands region. Midlands Mindforge is engaging with MPs for increased investment in regional growth, with a focus on supporting businesses and entrepreneurs. By providing networking opportunities, training, and expertise, Midlands Mindforge is helping to ensure that businesses like Terra Motion and others continue to thrive, driving both local and national progress.

Dr Andrew Sowter, Chief Technical Officer at Terra Motion, said: “We are an ambitious Nottingham-based company helping to identify risks for critical infrastructure across the globe using our own innovative technology.

It’s crucial for policymakers to understand the challenges and opportunities faced by businesses like ours and we were delighted to host MP Lilian Greenwood and provide her with insights into the incredible work that we do.”

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