This ICAM webinar explored how research developed within a university setting can be translated into a commercial venture. It brought together speakers from Imperial College London who have first-hand experience of this process, alongside a colleague supporting commercialisation activity at the university.
Dr Mengzheng Ouyang, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of M-Spin Ltd and Professor Nigel Brandon, Chair of M-Spin shared their experience of creating creating their spinout company. They reflected on how their research developed into a commercial opportunity, the challenges they encountered and the practical support they received from Imperial’s Commercialisation team.
Miguel Cheng, Commercialisation Executive, outlined the types of support available at Imperial for researchers who are curious about commercialising their research.
Dr Mengzheng OuyangCo-founder & Chief Technology Officer, M-Spin Ltd, and Research Associate, Imperial College London
Dr. Mengzheng Ouyang is the Chief Technology Officer of M-Spin Ltd. He holds a PhD in Electrochemical Engineering from Imperial College London and has more than 10 years of research experience in ceramic and metallic materials for electrochemical devices. He is the principal inventor of a novel high-surface-area metal sheet technology. In 2024, he co-founded M-Spin and has served as its technology lead since then, to commercialise this innovation and secured seed funding. The company is focused on bringing these advanced materials to market for applications in electrolysis, batteries, and thermal management.
Professor Nigel Brandon OBE FREng FRSDean of the Faculty of Engineering and Professor of Sustainable Development in Energy, Imperial College London, and Chair of M-Spin Ltd
Professor Nigel Brandon OBE FREng FRS is Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Professor of Sustainable Development in Energy at Imperial College London. His research interests focus on electrochemical science, engineering and technology for the low carbon energy transition. He is a founder of Ceres Power, a FTSE listed fuel cell and electrolyser company spun out from Imperial College in 2000, RFC Power, a flow battery company spun out from Imperial College in 2018, and M-SPIN, a company developing and manufacturing low cost high surface area materials for electrolysers, batteries, and thermal management, in 2024.
Miguel ChengCommercialisation Executive, Faculty of Engineering
Miguel Cheng is a Commercialisation Executive within the Faculty of Engineering at Imperial College London, where he manages intellectual property portfolios and patents arising from the Departments of Earth Science and Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Computing. His role focuses on identifying, protecting and commercialising high-impact innovations through licensing, industry partnerships and startup engagement. Visit Creating a spinout company on Imperial’s website.
