Cambridge innovation in numbers

The University sits at the heart of one of the world’s most successful innovation and technology clusters.

billion-dollar businesses born in Cambridge

the world’s leading science and technology cluster by intensity

in total annual turnover generated
by knowledge-intensive firms

knowledge-intensive firms

people work for knowledge-intensive firms

year-on-year increase in
knowledge-intensive jobs in Cambridge City region over last 6 years

spent over 3 years on
R&D by companies on
40 key business parks
around Cambridge.

life sciences companies

knowledge-intensive
services companies

high-tech manufacturing companies

IT and telecoms companies

The University of Cambridge: impact through innovation

contributed annually to
UK economy

jobs supported across
the UK

contributed through
teaching and learning of
UK students

one of the world’s top 4 universities

Cambridge affiliates awarded the Nobel Prize

new companies
formed through Cambridge Enterprise, the University's commercialisation arm, 2023-24

researchers supported by Cambridge Enterprise 2023-24

patent applications filed via Cambridge Enterprise 2023-24

in follow-on funding raised by University of Cambridge spinouts in the Cambridge Enterprise portfolio since 1995

firms founded by staff and alumni of the
University’s Department of Computer Science and Technology

_{Layout: Sarah Fell}
_{Infographics: Suvi Roberts}

Published: May 2025

This information has been collated from Cambridge Enterprise; Centre for Business Research, Cambridge Judge Business School; Department of Computer Science and Technology; Economic Impact of University of Cambridge report, London Economics; Global Innovation Index, Dealroom; QS World University Rankings.

Figures are based on information available in May 2025