BBSRC Sparking Innovation Conference 2024

Following last year’s success, the BBSRC Sparking Innovation Conference returns in 2024! Taking place in Edinburgh City Centre on Thursday 02 May, this year’s conference will be filled with insightful sessions, networking opportunities, and an opportunity to join a pre-conference workshop and demo day.

Bringing together over 150 bioscience innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and broader members of the UK bioscience innovation community, the conference will be focused on enabling knowledge exchange and networking, and on discussing the challenges and future needs of bioscience innovation in the UK.

The day will be packed with three fireside chats, three panel sessions, and plenty of networking opportunities. These will offer a deep dive into the journey of innovation, from ideation to commercial success, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and transforming research into start-ups.

Fireside Chats

A fantastic opportunity to hear about the very different journeys, careers and experiences of three extraordinary entrepreneurs; in one-on-one “fireside chat” style conversations with Chair Laura Dickens, Associate Director Industry Partnerships, Medical Research Council.

• Che Connon, Professor of Tissue Engineering and Director of Business Development FMS, Newcastle University.
• Shireen Davies, CEO, SOLASTA Bio.
• Matthew Richardson, Director, Beebytes Analytics CIC, and Manager, University of Edinburgh Apiary Project

Panel Discussion: Bridging the Gap: From Concept to Commercialisation

How do you identify opportunities for commercialisation while doing blue skies research? What are the challenges of bringing research out of the lab and into the marketplace? And how do you overcome them? Our panel of experts will discuss how to bridge this (perceived) gap between bioscience research and commercialisation.

Panel membership

• CHAIR: Caroline Woodside, Head of Strategic Partnerships Asia & Global, Edinburgh Innovations Ltd
• Jonathan Clarke, Head of Business Development, John Innes Centre
• Cathrina Edwards, Group Leader, Quadram Institute, and Co-Founder of PulseON Foods Ltd

Panel Discussion: Breaking Silos: Strategies for Seamless Interdisciplinary Innovation

Navigating and overcoming the complexities of inter- and intra-disciplinary collaboration in bioscience research isn’t easy at the best of times – but how do you do this in the commercialisation space?

Panel membership

• CHAIR: Nafeesa Dajda, Director of National Capability, Satellite Applications Catapult
• Stuart Reid, Head of Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Strathclyde
• Amanda Wooding, Deputy Head of Seed Funds, Cambridge Enterprise
• Marcel Gehrung, CEO and co-founder, Cyted

Panel Discussion: Turning Bioscience Research into a Successful Start-Up

Here, we will explore the different challenges, approaches and strategies to seek investment for bioscience start-ups. Our experts will share their insights and expertise on how to obtain the required support (financial and beyond) to start, scale-up and accelerate the growth of your bioscience start-up.

Panel membership

• CHAIR: Oliver Sexton, Investment Director, UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund
• Kathryn Chapman, Director, Science and Entrepreneurship, Babraham Research Campus
• David Dent, Chief Executive, Dent Associates Ltd
• Jessica Phillips-Harris, Senior Network Manager for Wales, British Business Bank

Please note that there are limited spaces for about 125 attendees to register. We will be operating on a first come, first serve basis; with a waiting list if attendees drop out.

Pre-Conference Workshop – afternoon of Wednesday 01 May 2024

Ahead of the conference, there will be an opportunity to attend a three-hour, highly interactive workshop around how to commercialise your bioscience research. This will include hands-on activities and guided group sessions around:

• Understanding the commercialisation process
• Building your business model canvas
• Identifying your market value proposition and creating a timeline for delivery
• Thinking about the development and protection of your intellectual property (what IP do I have now? What IP will I develop? What do I want to do with it?)
• Thinking about product development, funding opportunities, and marketing plans
• Brainstorming strategies for protection of product, brand, and the company
• Pitching your idea to investors

Following the workshop, there will be an opportunity for participants to join the pre-conference demo day and networking (further information below).

When registering, please indicate if you would like to apply for a space on this workshop. You will need to include a short summary of the bioscience commercialisation idea that you would like to explore, and a short outline of why you feel you would benefit from this workshop. Further details are provided on the registration page. Please note that there are limited spaces for about 40 attendees. We will endeavour to provide support to as many applications as possible, but, if needed, spaces will be offered on a competitive basis.

Please note that applications for the pre-conference workshop will close at 23:59 on Wednesday 27 March 2024.

Pre-Conference Demo Day – evening of Wednesday 01 May 2024

Ahead of the conference, there will be an opportunity for five bioscience start-ups to pitch their innovative businesses to a panel of early-stage investors. The pitching session will be followed by a networking session where aspiring entrepreneurs, founders and investors can chat and connect.

When registering, please indicate if you would like to pitch for your bioscience start-up at this demo day. You will need to provide a short summary of your company and bioscience innovation. Please note that there are limited spaces for five start-ups, so spaces will be offered on a competitive basis.

If you are not pitching for investment, we will endeavour to enable as many aspiring entrepreneurs, founders and investors to attend and benefit from the networking session. However, if needed, spaces will be offered on a competitive basis.

Please note that applications for the pre-conference demo day will close at 23:59 on Wednesday 27 March 2024.

If you have any questions, please contact the BBSRC Knowledge Exchange & Commercialisation team at [email protected]. Please include “Sparking Innovation” in the email subject line.

Registration for the BBSRC Sparking Innovation Conference will close at 23:59 on Sunday 28 April 2024.

Please note that applications for the pre-conference workshop and pre-conference demo day will close at 23:59 on Wednesday 27 March 2024.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Radison Blu Hotel, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, United Kingdom