Association News
From innovation assets to economic infrastructure
Reflections from the UK Global R&D and Science Investment Summit 2026 By Ruth Hall, Chief Executive, UK Science Park Association (UKSPA) Last week, UKSPA was proud to host a panel discussion at the UK Global R&D and Science Investment Summit, bringing together...
The Milburn Review: the shortest answer is doing.
Science Parks and Innovation clusters are part of the NEET solution. By Ruth Hall, Chief Executive, UK Science Park Association (UKSPA) The publication of Alan Milburn’s interim review into young people highlights the scale of the challenge facing those not in...
Backing Regional Innovation for Growth
Innovation is most effective when it builds on local strengths. The Government has announced plans to give regional leaders greater control over innovation funding, with investment designed to support high growth sectors, create jobs and strengthen local economies....
Latest Edition of UKSPA News Bulletin now available via LinkedIn. Be sure to subscribe.
Welcome to the latest edition of the UKSPA News Bulletin, your definitive source for updates on UKSPA events, publications and UKSPA member news. In this issue, we bring you all the latest dates for our next four conferences, the latest edition of Breakthrough and...
Forthcoming UKSPA Regional Meetings Announced
The next series of regional meetings for UKSPA Full and Associate Members, and key stakeholders have been announced. UKSPA regional member meetings provide a great opportunity to knowledge share, network with peers and shape the direction of UKSPA’S regional agenda....
Life Sciences: Translating, Scaling and Manufacturing
Andy Williams, chair of the Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster Board, led a discussion on translating, scaling and manufacturing in the life sciences sector as part of UKSPA’s 40th anniversary conference at Warwick University. He said: “We do have great science and we're...
Venture Capital – Public Markets
Improving access to public market funding for life science companies UKSPA’s conference at Warwick University saw a discussion chaired by association board member Prashant Shah, CEO of the O2h Group, on funding the UK’s life sciences sector from public markets. It...
The Policy Backdrop to Life Sciences – Building Finance, Skills and the Regulatory Framework
The policy backdrop to providing support – in particular finance – for the life sciences sector was the topic of debate for a high-powered plenary session at the UKSPA 40th anniversary conference at Warwick University. The first speaker was Irene Graham, Founder and...
UKSPA 40th Anniversary Conference – Good Science Isn’t Enough to Secure Funding
Being good at science isn’t enough to start and grow a business, or to attract venture capital. That was the stark message from a panel of experts at the UKSPA 40th anniversary conference at Warwick University. While venture capital can bridge the gap to take a...
UKSPA 40th Anniversary Conference – The UK’s Scientific Edge
Caution from UK investors is sending many life science start-ups to the USA in search of finance. But the country retains its edge in developing innovative technology. A discussion session at the UK Science Park Association’s three-day 40th anniversary conference, at...
UKSPA 40th Anniversary Conference: Science Parks – Looking to the Future
Pictured L-R, UKSPA Chair John Leake; Ebba Lund, CEO of IASP; Richard O’Boyle, CEO of Pioneer Group; Dean Cook, Director for Place and Levelling Up at Innovative UK. The rise of innovation districts and the opportunity for a major funding injection from the UK’s...
UKSPA 40th Anniversary Conference: Lively and Informative Debate on Innovation Clusters and Hotspots
Pictured L-R, discussion chair John Leake, Business Growth Director, Sci-Tech Daresbury and UKSPA Chair; Andrew Carter, CEO of Centre of Cities; Christine Doel, SQW; Professor Tim Vorley, Oxford Brookes Business School. What is an innovation cluster? It became clear...
UKSPA 40th Anniversary Conference: Big Pharma Looking for Big Returns from Obesity and Alzheimer’s Treatments
Pictured: Adrian Toutoungi (left), Partner at Taylor Wessing; and Professor Sir Mark Caulfield, Vice Principal Health at Queen Mary’s Faculty of Medicine. Discussions on the state of the UK’s life sciences market proved a major draw at the UKSPA’s 40th anniversary...
George Freeman MP – Science Parks Play a Vital Role in the UK’s Innovation Future
Science parks are on the front line of efforts to unlock a new era of growth, prosperity and productivity for the UK, delegates at the UKSPA anniversary conference in Warwick were told. The message was delivered by MP George Freeman. With a strong biomed business...
Professor Paul Monks, Chief Scientific Adviser, Department of Energy Security and Net Zero – Science Parks a Cauldron of Innovation in Drive Towards Net Zero
Science parks play a critical role in achieving net zero emissions, serving as hubs for research and development of renewable energy technologies. That was the conclusion of Professor Paul Monks, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Energy Security and Net...