UKSPA Spring Conference 2025
Exeter Science Park - Thurs 13th March & Friday 14th March 2025
UKSPA members and stakeholders will gather at Exeter Science Park, on Thursday 13th and Friday 14th March, for the UKSPA Spring Conference 2025. The Conference will be hosted by Exeter Science Park, with the plenary sessions taking place at their dedicated conferencing facilities. There will also be opportunities to tour their state-of-the-art facilities.
Throughout the two days, leading speakers from the UKSPA network and key partners and stakeholders will discuss in-depth the challenges, opportunities, and innovative ways the sector continues to engage, inspire, and grow through a series of plenary and best practice sessions.
In addition to hearing from numerous key stakeholders in the South West and nationally, the Spring Conference will be looking at subjects including, Funding Beyond the Golden Triangle, Effective and Sustainable Incubation Ecosystems, The Journey to Net Zero Carbon Science, Sustainable Facilities and Infrastructure, The Procurement Challenge in Volatile Markets and much more!
Current Agenda:
Thursday 13th March
11.00 – 12.30 Registration and Tours.
12.30 – 13.30 Lunch, Networking and Exhibition
13.30 – 13.40 UKSPA Welcome – Dr Sally Basker, UKSPA Chair
13.40 – 13.45 Tim Wheeldon, Managing Director, Zeal Hotels
13.45 – 14.15
Welcome from the Hosts and Stakeholders:
Speakers:
Nick Ames, Chair, Exeter Science Park Board of Directors
Ian Collinson, Strategic Director for Place, Exeter City Council
14.15 – 14.30
Keynote: Stuart Brocklehurst, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Business Engagement and Innovation, University of Exeter
14.30 –15.30
Funding Beyond the Golden Triangle – Panel Session
Chair: Nick Sturge, MBE, UKSPA Honorary Member
Panellists:
Matthew Sampson, Regeneration Director, The Crown Estate
Melanie Goward, Partner, Maven Capital Partners
Paul Jones, Senior Investment Manager, British Business Bank
15.30 – 15.45 – Coffee/Networking and Exhibition
15.45 –16.45
Is Net Zero Carbon Achievable in Laboratories?
Chair: Phil Macdonald, Managing Partner, Oberlanders Architects.
Panellists:
Tim Fry, Director, Business Leader Science UKIMEA, Arup
Gary Clark, Managing Director, HKS.
Alison Wring, Director Commercial Science/Tech Lead UK/I AECOM
16.45 – 18.00 Two Drifters Carbon Negative Rum – Talk and Tastings
19.00 – 19.45 Drinks Reception at Voco Zeal Exeter Science Park Hotel.
19.45 – 22.00 Dinner at Voco Zeal Exeter Science Park Hotel.
Kindly sponsored by Communicate Technology
Friday 14th March
8.30 – 9.00 Registration
9.00 – 10.00
The Future of Investment, Support & Mentoring
Chair: Caroline Fleming, Director, Surrey Innovation District, University of Surrey
Panellists:
Marty Reid, Executive Director, SETsquared
Dan Pritchard, Co-Founder, Tech South-West
Neil Griffin, Business Support Director Oxford Innovation Space
Lucy Bennett, Ecosystem Lab Manager, Barclays Eagle Labs
10.00 – 10.30 Coffee/Networking and Exhibition
10.30 – 11.30
The Journey to Net Zero Carbon Science- members discuss the challenges and their journeys in getting to net zero.
Chair: Grant Bourhill, Managing Director, Barts Life Sciences
Panellists:
Sarah Windrum, Head of Cluster Development, MIRA Tech Park
Jane Hutchins, Director, Cambridge Science Park
Laura Ludlow, Principal Associate, Mills & Reeve.
11.30 – 12.30
Keynotes:
12.30 – 1.30 Lunch, Networking, Exhibition
CLOSE
DELEGATE BOOKING
The Spring Conference at Exeter has now reached capacity and we are operating a waiting list whereby any cancellations will be reallocated. To be added to the waiting list please email info@ukspa.org.uk