Innovation environment at Uppsala University ranked high
Malin Graffner Nordberg, Head of UU Innovation. Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt
Uppsala University ranks among Europe’s top 15 universities in a new European ranking of research-based spin-out companies in deep tech and life science.
According to the European Spinouts Report 2025, compiled by Dealroom in collaboration with several players in venture capital and tech investments, Uppsala University ranks among the top 15 in Europe in terms of spin-outs based on deep tech and life science.
Among other things, the report assesses the economic value of spin-out companies that originate from university research, measured by such factors as their valuation, funding raised and development.
Uppsala University is ranked 12th in Europe, and also holds a strong position in national and Nordic contexts – second in Sweden and third in the Nordic region. Along with KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Lund University, Uppsala University is one of three Swedish institutions in Europe’s top 20.
Driving innovation and societal benefit
“It’s very pleasing that Uppsala University compares so well in this ranking,” says Malin Graffner Nordberg, Head of UU Innovation. “This confirms that strong companies grow out of our excellent research environments.”
Another condition for success has been improved data on the companies that are continuously spinning off from the University, she says.
“UU Innovation makes ongoing efforts to collect data and in-depth insights about these companies and this shows that our efforts have paid off.”
The European Spinouts Report 2025 shows that research-based deep tech and life science companies from European universities are collectively valued at an estimated USD 398 billion. These companies have created over 160,000 jobs and consist of more than 7,300 companies, from start-ups to scale-ups.
Supporting entrepreneurial ambitions early on
The report also shows that the economic impact of academic spin-outs has grown in recent years: 39 per cent of the total value comes from companies founded after 2015.
“This highlights the importance of Swedish and European universities continuing to invest in support at the very earliest stages to help researchers and students commercialise research results and business ideas,” says Graffner Nordberg.
Sara Gredemark
Examples of spin-out companies from Uppsala University
- Olink Proteomics (protein analyses for faster biomarker discovery)
- Bioarctic (disease-modifying treatments for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease)
- Altris (sodium-ion batteries for sustainable energy storage)
- Graphmatech (graphene-based materials for stronger and more sustainable products)
- Magstrom (magnetic balancing for generators that reduces vibration and extends life)
- Acuvi (precision solutions for micro-movements in medical devices)
- Inossia (softer bone cement that reduces the risk of fractures)
- Scaleout Systems (platform for secure and scalable AI development)
- AirForestry (drone-based thinning for environmentally friendly forest management)
- Pixlbio (testing of drug candidates using robotic lab and AI)