The start of a new year demands reflection - not just on what we've accomplished, but on how we've worked, who we've worked with, and whether we're focused on what matters most.
For a science and technology business park, success isn't just measured in square footage or ribbon-cutting ceremonies. It's found in the breakthroughs happening within our laboratories and the partnerships forming across our campus. It's about creating the conditions that accelerate the journey from discovery to real-world application.
Looking back to the end of 2025, the momentum is undeniable. Our tenants Particology and Asymchem secured multi-million-pound consortium research projects funded by Innovate UK, developing novel technologies for greener, more efficient medicine manufacturing. A round of applause is due to fellow tenant Levicept, who won ‘Clinical Advance of the Year’ at December's Scrip Awards, for breakthrough data that could unlock a new disease-modifying treatment for osteoarthritis.
Our winter market also brought a different kind of energy to the park, welcoming over 300 attendees and 90 stallholders. It was a joyful reminder that while we're serious about science and innovation, we're also building a genuine community that extends beyond laboratory walls and encompasses the local people of Sandwich. None of this would be possible without the hard work and dedication of the Discovery Park team and our tenants; thank you for making 2025 such a remarkable year.
As we look ahead to 2026, Discovery Park will once again serve as the hub for transformative research collaboration when we host the third Joint Innovation Showcase event on March 5th. A partnership with the University of Kent, this gathering represents exactly the kind of dynamic exchange we strive to facilitate, bringing together academics, industry partners, and funders.
The showcase will spotlight the progress of projects funded through the Kent UKRI Impact Acceleration Account, offering a valuable opportunity to assess how these initiatives are translating academic excellence into tangible outcomes. The day's panel discussion will tackle one of the most critical challenges in innovation: navigating the translational pipeline from research concept to commercial application, including the complex legal considerations that arise along the way. These conversations, involving perspectives from funding bodies, universities, and industry, are essential for identifying and removing barriers to innovation. Beyond the formal programme, there is also the opportunity for discussion with potential collaborators and hopefully developing new working partnerships.
This spring, we’ll be launching the fifth cohort of ‘Discovery Spark’, our transformational business growth programme for life science startups. With an open technology focus, early-stage companies should register their interest now. Spark demonstrates our commitment to championing early-stage R&D companies, providing key skills in commercialisation and funding strategies to ensure young businesses are better able to navigate a challenging economic environment.
That's what science parks are for: not just providing laboratory space, but catalysing the connections that turn brilliant ideas into innovations that change lives. I look forward to seeing what emerges from this year’s Innovation Showcase and Spark programme, and to a year of discovery ahead.
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