George Baxter

Chief Innovation and Economic Development Officer

Fusion Expert Network Member

After completing a BSc and a PhD in Chemistry at Glasgow University, Dr George Baxter spent 15 years in sales, marketing and business management with ICI and then AstraZeneca running a number of international businesses. George then joined the North West Development Agency (a UK Government economic development agency) in 2003 as Director of Science and Innovation. Over the next eight years, he led a number of major economic development initiatives including Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus, the formation of the N8 group of Universities and the Innovation Strategy for the NW of England. He then joined Salford University as Professor of Innovation and Enterprise and subsequently interim Pro-Vice Chancellor Research and Innovation and Director of Research and Enterprise. George moved to the University of Nottingham in 2014 to lead their Directorate of Business Engagement, merged this with the Research Support Office and led the joint operation before moving to University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Innovations, in 2016 to take up the role of Chief Executive. Edinburgh Innovations is the University’s commercialisation company and manages IP, spinouts and start-ups, consultancy, business engagement and student enterprise. It is one of the largest teams of its type in the UK with 150 staff. In April 2024 he moved to UC Davis as the inaugural Chief Innovation and Economic Development Officer.