Renos Savva is the new Head of Innovation at Discovery Park

Discovery Park appoints Head of Innovation

Discovery Park, the science and technology campus in Kent, has appointed an entrepreneur and highly respected Bio-business programme director from Birkbeck (University of London) as its new Head of Innovation.

Renos Savva joins the Discovery Park team to identify, support and empower entrepreneurial scientists to thrive within the 220-acres site offering specialist laboratories, manufacturing facilities and offices in Sandwich.

Savva has considerable experience as an entrepreneur, having co-founded Domainex, which was recognised by the Financial Times as the ‘fastest-growing drug discovery contract research organisation in Europe’ in 2018. With this commercial experience, he then developed and delivered the postgraduate Bio-business programme at Birkbeck as a Senior Lecturer.

He has played a key role in mentoring many successful CEOs and companies, including the founders of BoobyBiome, a biotech firm creating microbiome supplements for infants without access to breast milk. Recently profiled in a Channel 4 series, the company is also a recipient of funding support from Discovery Park Ventures, the park’s own investment fund.

Commenting on his appointment at the science and innovation park, Savva said: “I know first-hand the challenges faced by life science businesses, including unlocking funding and being able to access the facilities you need. A large part of my role is mentoring and supporting the many businesses located at here, as well as building our network even further.

“Discovery Park has innovation at its core and its new, bespoke lab space allows for flexibility for companies of all stages to scale and grow. I’m excited to be joining the already thriving innovator network, with the on-site Barclays Eagle Lab providing a full package of growth services, including mentoring, investor readiness programmes and access to investors such as Discovery Park Ventures.”

Mayer Schreiber, CEO of Discovery Park, said: “Renos will be instrumental in delivering Discovery Park’s mission to be a leading science and technology cluster which supports start-ups, spinouts, and scaling businesses to commercialise their innovation and achieve growth.

“Renos’ mentoring track record means he will be a real asset to Discovery Park’s offering, leveraging his connections in both academia and industry for the benefit of our tenants. Ideally placed for life science businesses of all stages, our facilities are just outside of the more established ‘golden triangle’, meaning there is room to grow, and you can still access opportunities and networks in central London in just over an hour.”

Renos Savva has always been interested in the commercial implications of discoveries and their translation into industry. Savva plans to bring his expertise to Discovery Park with a pre-accelerator intensive course onsite, upskilling scientists and aspiring entrepreneurs in business acumen, concluding with individuals using their new skills to pitch to real investors and VCs.

He added: “Over the years, I’ve mentored many successful founders to take their companies to the next level. The right environment and support are key to excelling in discovery science. I want to energise the next wave of founders and start-up leaders to see the potential of Discovery Park as an inspiring place to discover, build a business and live.”