Brouwers takes up entrepreneur in residence role – Daily Business

The Royal Society has appointed Mary Jane Brouwers as entrepreneur in residence (EiR) at Edinburgh Napier University (ENU).

Ms Brouwers will play a key part in developing the Investing for Impact Hub at The Business School of Edinburgh Napier University, helping to bridge academia, industry and investment communities.

The EiR scheme, which was launched in 2018, has funded more than 130 placements in 65 institutions, with the aim of increasing the knowledge in UK universities of the science, research and innovation taking place in industry.

As a familiar figure in the Scottish investment ecosystem, Ms Brouwers has held a number of senior posts, including independent director of ENU spin-out company Cyacomb, and is currently non-executive director at Castle Community Bank and Mint Ventures Associates.

She is also vice chair of ENU’s Impact Investment Symposium. With more than 20 years of experience in early-stage equity investments, she has worked with prominent firms such as SIS Ventures, Archangel Investors, Old College Capital, and the Scottish Investment Bank.

The Investing for Impact Hub will play a pivotal role in facilitating knowledge exchange, investment readiness and industry collaboration. As part of her residency, Ms Brouwers will dedicate one day per week to supporting the Hub, working with ENU staff and students to develop investment-ready projects.

She said: “Bringing together investors, academics and entrepreneurs to drive impactful change is at the heart of what I do, and I look forward to collaborating with the University to help develop projects that are investment ready and aligned with sustainability goals.”

Dr Wendy Wu, founder of Impact Investment Symposium and the Investing for Impact Hub, said: “Mary Jane’s appointment by the Royal Society is an invaluable resource for us, allowing us to consolidate the strong momentum the Impact Investment Symposium has built since its establishment in April 2020.

“Her expertise will be instrumental in strengthening engagement among academia, industry, innovators and investors.

“I am particularly excited about her role in expanding the impact investor community at our newly-established Hub.”