Financing university spin-outs: evidence from Imperial College London

This research work focuses on the factors which lead investors to finance university spin-outs. The achieved results related to spin-out companies in the United Kingdom are based on empirical evidence from Imperial College London. The characteristics of a sample of 557 university spin-outs have been examined in order to understand the investors’ attitude towards financing this typology of companies. The outputs of this study demonstrate that official spin-out companies supported by Imperial College are more likely to receive an investment. Furthermore, it is also shown that investors are not inclined to finance academic spin-outs in which the board of directors includes academics who are mainly involved in researching and teaching activities.

Influence of cladding on robustness of multi-storey buildings

In this dissertation the influence of a precast concrete cladding system on structural robustness of a multi-storey steel-composite building is studied. The analysis follows the well-established framework developed at Imperial College London for the appraisal of robustness of multi-storey buildings. For this scope a simplified nonlinear model of a typical precast concrete façade-system is developed. Particular attention is given to the connection system between structural frame and panel, recognised as the driving component of the nonlinear behaviour of the façade-system. Only connections involved in the gravity load path are evaluated (bearing connections). Together with standard connection, a newly proposed system (Slotted Bearing Connection) is designed to achieve a more ductile behaviour of the panel-connection system. A parametric study involving the dimensions of panel-connection components is developed to search for an optimal configuration of the bearing connection. From the appraisal of structural robustness of the panelised frame it is found that the standard connection systems may reduce the robustness of a multi-storey frame due to a poor ductile behaviour while the newly proposed connection is able to guarantee an enhanced response to the panelised multi-storey frame thanks to a higher ductility.