Dr Martino Picardo, Chairman of Discovery Park and Dr Robert Barker, University of Kent sign the MoU at the Innovation Boot Camp

Discovery Park forges link with University of Kent

Discovery Park and the University of Kent have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will see Kent’s leading science park and the University work together in a number of strategic areas including Industrial Biotechnology, Neurosciences and digital and data driven healthcare, increasingly referred to as Tech Bio.

The MOU was signed on the first day of a three-day Innovation Boot Camp held at the rapidly expanding science park, in which staff and postgraduate students from the University’s Division of Natural Sciences took part in talks and workshops aimed at developing their knowledge of commercialising innovation.

During the Boot Camp, participants heard from senior leaders at Discovery Park and its tenants and undertook interactive sessions focussed on building successful start-ups in the science sector which are attractive to investors.

Discovery Park is already actively engaged with University of Kent’s Industrial Biotech research groups, who are partners in the Growing Kent and Medway project. The University’s Industrial Biotechnology MSc course has already been identified as adding to Discovery Park’s ability to provide research expertise to the benefit of the Industrial Biotechnology community.  

Mayer Schreiber, CEO Discovery Park, said: “Signing this MOU creates solid foundations to bring scientific research and companies closer together and strengthens our shared ambitions.

“Collaboration between academia and business is essential if we are to build on the exciting developments that are coming out of the University’s laboratories. Activities like the bootcamp allows to identify the next wave of start-ups who have the potential to scale up into successful companies, allowing us to expand on our ability to create a Manufacturing Village at Discovery Park.”

Dr Robert Barker, Innovation Lead for the University’s Division of Natural Sciences, said: “Discovery Park is a strategic point of engagement for the Biotech community and an important hub for our students and research community as they work to develop their world leading research and innovations.

“This MoU will enable us all to work more closely together as we seek to address some of the most pressing issues in Tech Bio. It will also enable us to encourage, develop and promote new ventures, as well as retaining talent within our region and disciplines.”

The MOU will cover a three-year period, allowing the county of Kent to build firm foundations in areas of academic scientific expertise, which lend themselves to a rural and coastal bioeconomy and a science park connected via a high-speed train link, to the tech cluster at Kings Cross, London.

About Discovery Park 

Discovery Park is a thriving part of the South East’s life science community. The siteoffers high quality laboratory, office and manufacturing facilities, the space and support to expand, access to local finance, and a strong local scientific talent pool.  It was named recently one of six prestigious UK Life Sciences Opportunity Zones by the UK Government,and is developing its vision for a Manufacturing Village. The growing tenant community includes Pfizer, which built the site’s reputation as a centre for drug discovery and discovered some of the most famous drugs in the world here. 

Other tenants include Algaecytes, Canterbury Christ Church University, Concept Life Sciences, eXroid, Genea Biomedx, LGC, Viatris, Psyros Diagnostics, Salvensis, VisusNano and Wren Healthcare. Discovery Park is home to 160+ companies employing 3,500 employees in total. With easy connections to London, Europe and the world Discovery Park is a great place to build and grow your biotech, medtech or pharma business.