Event Partners
UKSPA’s members and stakeholders will gather at the University of Nottingham Innovation Park on Thursday 19th and Friday 20th November for the UKSPA Autumn Conference.
Join us for the UKSPA Autumn Conference hosted by University of Nottingham Innovation Park for two days of strategic insights.
Agenda will be published shortly
Taking place on Thursday 19th and Friday 20th November, the conference will bring together science parks, innovation districts, research campuses, and technology clusters, alongside UKSPA Business Affiliates and key stakeholders, to share best practice, and debate the most pressing regional and national trends shaping our sector.
Over the two days, we will explore the evolving landscape of regional innovation ecosystems, as well as strategies for driving sustainable economic growth,
You will hear from Keynotes on industry trends and policy shaping UK innovation. There will also be interactive panel sessions and fireside chats, peer networking, including a drinks reception and dinner, and an exhibition. There is also the opportunity to join tours, taking in the cutting-edge facilities, incubation infrastructure, and grow-on spaces deployed across the University of Nottingham Innovation Park.
Alice Cooper-Reeve, Chief Executive Officer, University of Nottingham Innovation Park, looking ahead to the conference said “Having had the pleasure of attending many fantastic member locations for UKSPA conferences over the years, I am so excited to be hosting the November conference at UNIP. I’m looking forward to an open conversation on the challenges, opportunities, and long-term future of the communities fellow members are developing.”
About the Hosts – University of Nottingham Innovation Park
The University of Nottingham Innovation Park (UNIP) is delighted to host the UKSPA Autumn Conference on 19th and 20th November 2026.
The University anchored innovation campus was built to bring world leading research together with high growth businesses. What makes Jubilee distinctive is the alignment with the UK’s industrial strategy. Sectors like aerospace, zero carbon propulsion, fusion, defence, digital and advanced manufacturing all sit at the heart of what happens at the Innovation Park.
UNIP is anchored by a Russell Group research powerhouse, the University of Nottingham, and is geared toward creating regional opportunity, economic impact, and knowledge driven growth.
UNIP’s ecosystem has a very clear focus: engineering and technology innovation. To curate a complementary mix of gateway-tested tenants who share similar technology platforms, challenges, funding routes, and infrastructure needs. That shared focus is intentional; it creates density, collaboration, and a resilient environment for innovation.
One of UNIP’s greatest assets is the breadth and depth of the University’s research strengths. Across engineering, technology, and business, they have facilities and expertise to support innovation, from the recently opened Hybrid Propulsion Centre and Zero‑carbon Innovation Centre to the Advanced Manufacturing Building and world class computer science labs. You’ll get the opportunity to tour some of these facilities over the two days. We’ve also got the business ecosystem: Nottingham University Business School, the Ingenuity Lab, and Executive Education. All of this is underpinned by strong research commercialisation through Nottingham Technology Ventures.
UNIP’s ecosystem is delivering measurable economic value, having seen businesses secure £8 million in Innovate UK funding and attract £14 million in private investment. The Park is seeing around 5% annual growth across the community, and strong survival rates for early-stage companies. They are growing innovation-active businesses, increasing R&D intensity, and supporting companies as they begin exporting and entering international markets. The opportunity is large and they are continuing to build a much broader scheme of activity to capture it.
UNIP’s sister subsidiary of the University, Nottingham Venues, are hosting the conference in their Jubilee Hotel & Conference Centre. The centre, and wider campus, is an outstanding example of brownfield regeneration, sustainability, low energy design and innovative architecture. The buildings use natural materials such as cedar redwood cladding and recycled newspaper insulation. There are a series of man-made lakes that provide a valuable wildlife habitat, contribute to heating and cooling of buildings, and give the centre a wonderful waterfront setting.
UKSPA Autumn Conference Tours
Do please note spaces on the tours are limited and are bookable at the point of registration only. Places are on a first come first served basis.
Thursday 19th November 15:30 – 17:00
Option 1: Hybrid Propulsion and the Zero Carbon Innovation Centres
The University of Nottingham has opened the new Hybrid Propulsion Systems Building featuring the latest technology in cryogenic testing, alternative-fuel engines, altitude facilities and advanced manufacturing to help move propulsion technologies towards industrial use.
Alongside this facility, the University in partnership with East Midlands Freeport, Research England, and Loughborough University, has opened the Zero Carbon Innovation Centre. The Centre delivers innovation in transport technology, green hydrogen production, and power solutions for industry. At the Centre, partners benefit from research projects as well as commercially contracted testing and R&D programmes. They can co-locate to the centre to collaborate with researchers and have access to incubator labs and office space.
There will be two tour groups in the 1hour 30-minute slot of up to a maximum of 20 people each group
Group 1 starts at 15:30 and will return by 16:15. Maximum of 20 delegates per group
Group 2 starts on the return of Group 1 and is back by 17:00. Maximum of 20 delegates per group. Thereafter walking back to the onsite hotel.
Option 2: University of Nottingham Innovation Park Community
This walking tour will take you through the campus to see the Sir Colin Campbell Building, Enterprise Building, and get to meet one of hosts tenants, Onyx Insight, in the Ingenuity Centre.
Since 2008, Onyx have been monitoring more wind turbines around the world than any other independent service provider – using award-winning sensing technology, predictive maintenance, and analytics software. All of which has been designed to make owning and operating wind farms easier and more profitable.
One group of up to 60 people will do a walking tour of UNIP’s buildings on the way to the Ingenuity Centre to hear from Onyx, one of the hosts tenants. Thereafter walking back to the onsite hotel.
Friday 20th November 09:00 – 10:30
Option 1: Advanced Manufacturing Building
This nationally significant research centre consolidates the University’s manufacturing science and technology capabilities, expertise, and industrial support. The AMB is home to the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (IfAM), with world-class research and teaching facilities for design, manufacturing, assembly and metrology, measurement, testing and modelling.
IfAM encompasses a multidisciplinary team of established academics in their respective fields in the UK and at our campuses in Malaysia and China. Scientific research at the Institute underpins many high impact innovations in key sectors, such as aerospace, automotive, food, biomedical, energy generation, chemical products and digital manufacturing.
Two tour groups in the 1 Hour 30 Minute slot of up to a maximum of 20 people each per group.
Group 1 starts at 09:00 and return by 09:45,
Group 2 starts on the return of Group 1
Option 2: University of Nottingham Innovation Park Community
One group of up to 60 people will do a walking tour of UNIP’s buildings on the way to the Ingenuity Centre to hear from Onyx, one of the hosts tenants.
Drinks Reception and Conference Dinner Sponsored by Yardi
The Drinks Reception and Conference Dinner will take place at the Jubilee Campus Hotel on Thursday 19th November:
Drinks Reception 18.30
Conference Dinner 19.30
Dress Code: Business Attire
Picture Credits: Alex Wilkinson Media