The stage is now set for the first UK Global R&D and Science Investment Summit, with a stellar programme bringing together a distinguished line‑up of speakers, partners and institutions to showcase the breadth and depth of the UK’s most exciting science, research and investment opportunities.
Taking place on 8–9 June at The Royal Society, London, and aligned with London Tech Week, the Summit comes at a time when the UK will welcome more than 30,000 members of the global technology and investment community. It will provide an unprecedented platform for the UK’s nations and regions to present investment‑ready science and innovation opportunities on an international stage.
Across two days, the Summit will convene senior leaders from across government, academia, industry and investment, positioning the UK as a global hub for science‑driven growth and collaboration.
The Summit will be co‑chaired by Professor Dame Angela McLean, the UK Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, and Rt Hon Greg Clark, Executive Chair of the University of Warwick Innovation District and member of the UK Industrial Strategy Council. Lord Patrick Vallance, Minister for Science, Innovation and Research will also be speaking at the UKRI reception on the first evening of the Summit.
Speaking ahead of the event, Rt Hon Greg Clark said: “The Summit will bring together leading global investors and innovators to discuss the world‑leading science providing the very best investment opportunities coming out of UK universities and industry.
“As a member of the UK Industrial Strategy Council, I am particularly interested to hear more from the leading speakers from industry and academia who will discuss the best science and research investment opportunities from the Industrial Strategy sector zone.”
Three zones, two days, one major showcase of opportunity
The Summit will see The Royal Society transformed into a two‑day UK Science and Innovation House, convening investment opportunities from across the UK’s nations and regions and presenting a powerful, joined‑up national offer to a global audience.
The programme is structured around three thematic zones, each designed to showcase a different dimension of the UK’s science, innovation and investment landscape:
UK Modern Industrial Strategy Zone – A flagship series of high‑level panels and networking sessions exploring the question “Why invest in UK R&D and Science?”, this zone brings together senior leaders from government, industry, academia and investment across the UK’s priority growth sectors. Covering areas including advanced manufacturing, defence, clean energy, life sciences and digital technologies (AI, semiconductors, quantum, telecoms and engineering biology), the programme features multiple UK Chief Scientific Advisers, major industry figures including Rolls‑Royce, and leading investors and academic experts. Sessions are designed to demonstrate how the UK is translating world‑class research into commercial opportunity, industrial growth and international investment, supported by organisations such as ARIA, the British Business Bank, Catapults and leading universities.
Venture and Spinout Zone – Showcasing more than 60 investment‑ready university spinouts across CleanTech, DeepTech and Life Sciences, collectively seeking over £200m from pre‑seed to Series A, this zone brings together founders, investors and ecosystem leaders for a series of showcases, panels and roundtables. Delivered in partnership with organisations including the Office for Investment, UK Private Capital, SETsquared, ARIA, the Catapult Network and Medilink UK, the programme explores venture funding, university‑affiliated investment models, deal readiness and science park infrastructure. Highlights include sector‑focused investor showcases, a dedicated Midlands Spinout Showcase, and contributions from leading investors and fund managers including UK Private Capital, Midlands Mindforge, Cambridge Innovation Capital and Oxford Science Enterprises.
UK Nations & Regions Zone – Bringing together innovation ecosystems from across the UK, this zone showcases the strength of place‑based R&D investment opportunities and the role of regions in delivering national growth. Featuring dedicated showcases from Wales, Scotland, the Midlands and the North East, alongside sessions on innovation ecosystems, city‑region growth and cluster development, the programme convenes leaders from government, universities, industry and investment. Highlights include regional investment showcases and discussions on scaling innovation systems and partnerships, including the Oxford‑Cambridge Supercluster, with support from organisations such as MetroDynamics, ARUP, Rolls‑Royce and combined authorities. Contributions from regional mayors, university leaders and industry figures provide investors with direct access to regional pipelines of opportunity.
Together, these three zones highlight how the UK’s world‑leading science, sector strengths and regional ecosystems combine to create a powerful, globally competitive investment proposition.
The Midlands takes centre stage
The Summit is being convened through the Invest in UK University R&D – Midlands Campaign, in partnership with Midlands Innovation, which has played a central role in developing and delivering both the programme and the wider investment proposition.
The event marks the culmination of a two‑year pilot programme, designed to demonstrate a new, place‑based approach to attracting international investment into UK research and innovation. By bringing together universities, Mayors and industry partners, the campaign has developed a coordinated national offer, aligned with the UK’s GREAT campaign, showing how regional strengths can be combined and presented at scale to global investors.
This approach builds on the wider regional momentum highlighted in the recent Midlands Innovation report, A new era of commercialisation, which sets out how the region’s universities, industry, investors and civic partners are coming together to position the Midlands as the UK’s next major innovation powerhouse. The report highlights a coordinated shift towards accelerating the translation of research into investable opportunities and high‑growth companies through initiatives such as Forging Ahead. Now the Summit provides a clear, global platform for that ambition, demonstrating how this collective effort is now being presented at scale to investors.
As a core partner, the Midlands will be strongly represented throughout the Summit, including through a dedicated Midlands Innovation & Investment Reception and activity across multiple zones. The region will showcase its strengths in advanced manufacturing, health and med‑tech, clean energy, digital technologies and aerospace, bringing together university leaders, investors and policymakers to highlight the scale of opportunity across one of the UK’s most innovation‑intensive regions.
Dr Helen Turner, Director of Midlands Innovation, said: “The Campaign has shown that, in the Midlands, universities play a major role in attracting investment, driving growth and creating jobs. By bringing together our collective strengths, we are showcasing investment‑ready R&D opportunities from the Midlands and across the UK on a truly global stage.”
A defining moment for UK science investment
With the final programme now confirmed, the Summit is set to be a defining moment; bringing together world‑leading science, investment and policy leadership and showcasing the UK’s global offer across its nations and regions. Demand for places has been extremely strong, underlining the level of interest in the UK’s R&D and innovation pipeline.
For those interested in where the UK’s industrial strategy, regional strengths and spinout ecosystem intersect, the Summit offers a rare opportunity to engage with the people shaping those conversations.
Attendance is free but by invitation only. Visit the Summit website to explore the programme and register your interest.
