UKSPA Spring Conference 2025
Exeter Science Park - Thurs 13th March & Friday 14th March 2025 Register Today
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 Draft Conference Programme
Thursday 13th March
11am – 12.30 Registration and Tours
12.30 – 13.30 Lunch, Networking and Exhibition
13.30 – 13.45 UKSPA Welcome – Dr Sally Basker, UKSPA Chair
13.45 – 14.15 Welcome from the Hosts and Stakeholders
Nick Ames, Chair, Exeter Science Park Board of Directors
Keri Denton, Director of Performance and Partnerships, Devon County 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
Matthew Sampson, Regeneration Director, The Crown Estate
TBC from the Department for Business and Trade
Jody Tableporter, Director, British Business Bank
15.30 – 15.45 Coffee/Networking and Exhibition
15.45 – 16.45 Is Net Zero Carbon Achievable in Laboratories?
Phil Macdonald, Managing Partner, Oberlanders Architects.
Tim Fry, Director, Business Leader Science UKIMEA, Arup
Gary Clark, Deputy Chair of the Construction Industry Council Climate Change Committee.
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.
Friday 14th March
08.30 – 09.00 Registration
09.00 – 10.00 The Future of Investment, Support & Mentoring
Chair: Caroline Fleming, Director at Surrey Innovation District
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
Sarah Windrum, Future mobility cluster, lead, Horiba MIRA
Oliver King, Development and Leasing Director, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst.
Laura Ludlow, Principal Associate, Mills & Reeve.
11.30 – 12.30 Keynotes
Ahmed Goga, Director, Great South West Partnership
David Ferguson, Head of Net Zero Innovation, EDF UK
12.30 – 13.30 Lunch, Networking and Exhibition
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
Event Partner
Event Partner
