UKSPA Spring Conference 2025

UKSPA members and stakeholders gathered at Exeter Science Park, on Thursday 13th and Friday 14th March, for the UKSPA Spring Conference 2025. The Conference included plenary sessions, held in Exeter Science Park’s Dome, with evening drinks reception and dinner taking place in the brand new voco Zeal Exeter Science Park Hotel.

Throughout the two days, leading speakers from the UKSPA network and key partners and stakeholders discussed 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 looked 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!

Conference Programme:

The final Conference Programme, including the delegate list,  is available for download here.

Presentations:

The plenary session presentations, where available, are available for download using the links below:

Tim Wheeldon, Managing Director, Zeal Hotels

Nick Ames, Chair, Exeter Science Park Board of Directors

Ian Collinson, Strategic Director for Place, Exeter City Council

Keynotes:

Stuart Brocklehurst, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Business Engagement and Innovation, University of Exeter
Ahmed Goga, Director, Great South West Partnership
David Ferguson, Head of Net Zero Innovation, EDF UK

Panel Session: Is Net Zero Carbon Achievable in Laboratories?