Innovation Exchange

  • 24th June 2026, Eagle Labs, Discovery Park

A welcome breakfast introduction and bookable 30‑minute sessions with experienced academics to explore meaningful collaboration opportunities 

Canterbury Christ Church University are offering sessions with academics from our Business, Innovation and Growth (BIG) Hub alongside, Life Sciences, Engineering and Computing as bookable 30‑minute introductory meetings with experienced academics to explore meaningful collaboration opportunities.

Learn how our expertise, facilities and student talent can support your work. These sessions are ideal for businesses seeking fresh ideas, research partnerships or enhanced engagement with emerging innovation.

What we can offer:

  • Guest Speaker Opportunities bring your current industry insight to the classroom
  • Module Assessment Partnerships work with us to shape real‑world learning
  • Final‑Year Dissertation Projects student projects aligned to your business challenges
  • Internships & Placements the best way to access new talent
  • Funded Research Opportunities finding ways we can progress together
  • Bespoke CPD and Consultancy what upskilling does your team need, what problems can we solve for you

 

Book Your 30-Minute Session

Discovery Park Christmas Market

  • December 8, 2026
  • 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM
  • The Gateway, Discovery Park
Get into the festive spirit with unique gifts, tasty treats, and good vibes at the Discovery Park Christmas Market!
Join us at Discovery Park on December 8, 2026 at 11:30 AM (GMT) for a fun and festive Christmas Market! Enjoy browsing unique stalls & tasty treats, in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Perfect for picking up gifts or just soaking in the seasonal cheer. Don’t miss out on the holiday spirit right in the heart of Discovery Park – see you there!

Clean Planet Technologies opens world’s first waste plastics to sustainable aviation fuel pilot facility at Discovery Park

Dr Andrew Odjo, CEO at Clean Planet Technologies (left), leads a tour of the new Sustainability Innovation Centre. 

A major breakthrough in tackling both waste plastic and aviation emissions has been marked with the opening of the world’s first waste plastics to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) pilot facility at Discovery Park.

Dedicated to converting hard-to-recycle waste plastics into SAF, the new Sustainability Innovation Centre is operated by Clean Planet Technologies. The Centre is set up to research and develop new technologies to deal with non-recyclable plastic waste, beginning with conversion into jet fuel. 

The UK creates 5 million tonnes of waste plastics each year, 80% of which cannot be recycled, such as carrier bags and food packaging film. Globally the world’s commercial aircraft consume between 7 and 8 million barrels of jet fuel per day, equivalent to 7-8% of total global daily oil demand.

Dr Andrew Odjo, Chief Executive Officer at Clean Planet Technologies, said: “Our process first heats the waste plastic with a chemical reaction to turn it into a liquid, rather than burning it. This is then treated with our patented process to remove impurities and create SAF that meets stringent commercial aviation specifications.

“Every day, around 100,000 commercial flights operate globally while approximately 30,000 tonnes of plastic enters the ocean. That’s the equivalent of us dumping 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic into the world’s oceans, rivers, and lakes every single day. Our pilot facility will demonstrate this waste can be turned into a premium product with a quantifiable commercial demand, as well as reducing the lifecycle carbon footprint of the aviation industry. We monitor how much energy the process uses, and overall, it cuts the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by more than 70% compared to traditional fossil jet fuel.

“With currently less than 1% of global aviation fuel produced from sustainable sources, the scale of the environmental opportunity presented by our technology means the opening of our facility is an important step towards the UK’s ambition to support sustainable aviation.”

The pilot facility plays a critical role in bridging innovation and commercial development, integrating several stages into one single, controlled system optimised to transform hard-to-recycle plastics into SAF. It has been designed to support fuel and feedstock testing, validation and progression through the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) qualification process, with financial support already in place from the Department for Transport-funded UK SAF Clearing House.

Chris Broom, Head of Business Development at Discovery Park, commented: “Kent is becoming a real hub for world-leading sustainable innovation, and this facility is a powerful demonstration of what’s possible when cutting-edge science meets the right environment to grow. The Sustainability Innovation Centre is a landmark moment — for Clean Planet Technologies, for Kent, and for the future of sustainable aviation.”

Over the past year, Discovery Park’s technical and engineering teams worked hand-in-hand with Clean Planet Technologies to deliver the new facility, co-ordinating the building and fit-out, plus procuring local consultants and contractors. The opening of the new facility was celebrated with an event on 24th April, which included key industry stakeholders and local Government attendees. 

Dr. Katerina Garyfalou, Chief Operating Officer at Clean Planet Technologies, added: “The Sustainability Innovation Centre is set up to demonstrate our patented waste-plastics-to-SAF process at pilot scale, supporting fuel testing, validation and progression.

“The important thing is that our pilot facility will support the growth of others, helping the UK to meet its SAF mandate. UK government policy to decarbonise aviation fuel states that 2% of UK jet fuel demand must be SAF, increasing to 10% in 2030 and 22% in 2040.”

The key steps of the process are:

  1. Shredding: Waste plastics are pre-processed and shredded to a uniform size. 
  2. Pyrolysis: The material is fed into one of the centre’s two pyrolysis units, with the largest capable of processing up to 1 ton of plastic per day. In this oxygen-free environment, the plastics are thermocatalytically converted into a synthetic crude oil. This melts the plastic, rather than burning it.
  3. Purification: Impurities and contaminants in the synthetic crude oil are removed.
  4. Distillation: The pyrolysis oil is transferred to a distillation unit, where it is separated into relevant fractions and optimised for upgrading into higher-value fuels. 
  5. Upgrading: The fractions are then processed through Clean Planet Technologies’ patented hydroprocessing system, which uses hydrogen to further remove impurities, and transform the properties of the product to meet stringent SAF specifications.
  6. SAF product: The resulting ultra-clean, ultra-low sulphur fuel suitable for aviation use is sent for testing, blending and evaluation as part of the ASTM qualification pathway as SAF.

 

The fundamentals of the process (pyrolysis, purification, distillation and hydroprocessing) are all technologies which are currently used independently at commercial scale, meaning scaling up the process is not a challenge. 

Clean Planet Group was founded in 2018 by Dr Andrew Odjo, Adel Louertatani, Bertie Stephens and Fernando Diamond.

CEO Bertie Stephens added: “Our pilot facility addresses two strategic challenges simultaneously: plastic waste management and aviation decarbonisation. By converting non-recyclable plastics – materials that would otherwise have gone to landfill or been incinerated – into low-carbon aviation fuel, the facility supports both circular economy objectives and the reduction of lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions.

“This pilot opens up new ways to make sustainable aviation fuel, just as existing feedstocks such as energy crops are becoming harder to secure. It also positions the UK as a leader in turning waste plastics into SAF, supports UK and European SAF targets and is helping clear the path to commercial-scale plants later this decade, and remove plastic waste from the environment.”

For more information, visit www.cleanplanet.com/technologies

IT Infrastructure & Support Engineer

Position: IT Infrastructure & Support Engineer
Location: Discovery Park, Sandwich, Kent
Role: Full-time

 

Company Background

Discovery Park is a leading science and innovation park in the Southeast of England, home to more than 160 forward-thinking companies ranging from ambitious start-ups to global multinationals. Our vibrant community spans the pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, healthcare, technology, and professional services sectors, creating a dynamic environment where innovation thrives.

 

Through our dedicated operational and business support teams, Discovery Park Management Ltd (DPML) delivers comprehensive facilities management across the site. This includes the maintenance of buildings, landscaped grounds, and utilities infrastructure, as well as the provision of essential services such as front-of-house reception, cleaning, logistics, security, and event management.

We are committed to maintaining a welcoming environment for all occupiers and visitors, delivering quality services across the park, whilst continuously seeking opportunities to improve and enhance the way we operate.

 

Our values guide everything we do:

·         Inspirational leadership – leading by example and empowering others

·         People-focused – treating everyone with respect, care, and professionalism

·         Operational excellence – delivering consistently high standards in all we do

·         Community spirit – working collaboratively and supporting one another as one team

 

Main Purposes of the Job

To provide effective IT support across Discovery Park and support the operation and delivery of reliable, secure IT systems and infrastructure. The role focuses on end-user support, device deployment, and the day-to-day maintenance of core IT infrastructure including networks, servers, and cloud services. The post holder will work closely with the IT & Software Development Engineer to ensure stable and well-supported technology services across the organisation.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

IT Support

  • Provide 1st and 2nd line IT support, resolving hardware, software, and basic network issues.
  • Build, configure, and deploy desktop PCs and laptops, including occasional full builds from components.
  • Image and roll out Windows devices using standard tools and processes.
  • Support Windows environments, standard business applications, and user access to systems (including internally developed applications).
  • Manage user accounts and permissions (e.g. Active Directory, Microsoft 365).
  • Support printers, meeting room technology, and shared IT equipment.
  • Provision and support mobile devices (primarily Android, with some iOS).

Infrastructure & Systems

  • Support and maintain core IT infrastructure including servers, networking, Wi-Fi, and telephony.
  • Perform routine administration, monitoring, and first-level issue resolution to minimise downtime.
  • Assist with patching, endpoint protection, backups, and system maintenance activities.
  • Support access control systems, CCTV, and operational technology environments (training provided).
  • Escalate complex infrastructure issues where required, while maintaining ownership of initial diagnosis and resolution

IT Projects & Improvements

  • Assist with IT systems and infrastructure projects including upgrades, migrations, and new implementations.
  • Carry out tasks such as device preparation, configuration, testing, and user support.
  • Proactively contribute to continuous improvement of IT services, processes, and documentation.
  • Progress agreed improvement tasks during quieter support periods.

General

  • Maintain accurate IT records including asset registers, licences, and configurations.
  • Produce and maintain clear technical documentation and user guidance.
  • Provide basic user training and support adoption of IT systems.
  • Follow organisational policies relating to cybersecurity, data protection (GDPR), and backups.
  • Contribute to a professional, customer-focused IT support service.

 

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

As required by the Business and/or directed by Management

Essential

  • Relevant IT qualification or equivalent practical experience.
  • Experience in an IT support or IT engineering role.
  • Strong hands-on experience building, configuring, and deploying PCs and laptops.
  • Experience supporting Windows environments, including device imaging.
  • Practical experience supporting IT infrastructure, including networks (e.g. switches, Wi-Fi, basic firewall concepts).
  • Understanding of core IT concepts: user accounts, permissions, VPNs, DNS/DHCP, printers.
  • Strong troubleshooting skills with the ability to work independently.
  • Good communication skills with the ability to support users at all levels.
  • Well organised, reliable, and able to manage workload effectively.
  • Experience supporting and provisioning mobile devices (Android, with some iOS exposure).

 

Desirable

  • Experience administering Microsoft 365 and/or Azure AD.
  • Familiarity with endpoint management tools (e.g. Intune or similar).
  • Basic Linux knowledge.
  • Exposure to cyber security tools or practices.
  • Basic scripting/automation skills (e.g. PowerShell)
  • Basic experience supporting macOS devices.
  • Experience working in a multi-site or operational/industrial environment

 

Note: The Job Description is not intended to be all inclusive. The job holder may be required to perform other related duties to meet the on-going needs of the Company

Annual Salary: £35,000.00 DOE

Working Week: e.g. 40 hours per week – 8am to 5pm (inclusive of 1-hour unpaid break each day)

 

Benefits:

  • 25 days annual leave plus Public Bank Holidays
  • 40 hours per week – 8am to 5pm (inclusive of 1-hour unpaid break each day)
  • Free on-site parking
  • Employee Discount & Recognition Platform (Discovery Perks)
  • Access to Employee Assistance Programme
  • 10% Discount at on-site catering outlets
  • 10 days company sick pay in any rolling year, after successful completion of probation*
  • Workplace pension (3% employer contribution) for those aged between 22 and state pension age.
  • On site Gym

 

Annual Salary: £35,000.00 DOE

Working Week: e.g. 40 hours per week – 8am to 5pm (inclusive of 1-hour unpaid break each day)

 

Benefits may be subject to change

 

To apply, please send your CV and covering letter to: humanresources@discovery-park.co.uk

ChemPartner Expands European Presence with New Scientific Site at Discovery Park, UK

International contract research organisation ChemPartner has officially opened its first European scientific hub at Discovery Park, Sandwich, Kent. The company works with the biopharmaceutical industry to efficiently and rapidly bring life-changing drugs to market.

 

Founded in Shanghai in 2002, ChemPartner has more than 2,000 employees globally, most of whom are based in Asia. The company currently has seven UK employees, many of whom work hybrid, and is actively recruiting for a Senior Scientist to be based at Discovery Park. 

 

ChemPartner’s Discovery Park facility is a dedicated centre for preclinical and translational research, supporting drug discovery with early-stage in vitro screening and allowing for increased operational agility and accelerated timelines. The new lab has been established in collaboration with Canterbury Christ Church University, through which ChemPartner is able to access advanced laboratory equipment onsite. 

 

This new scientific hub marks the first step in ChemPartner’s broader UK and EU expansion, complementing the recent establishment of an R&D Centre of Excellence in Boston, USA, and the company’s established European administrative operations in Copenhagen, Denmark.

 

“Establishing our presence at Discovery Park reflects ChemPartner’s commitment to bringing high-quality science closer to our clients,” says Yinfei Yin, SVP of Biology, BD and Marketing. “This site enhances our ability to deliver responsive, integrated support across Europe, and we are excited to scale these capabilities alongside our partners.”

Mayer Schreiber, CEO at Discovery Park added: “ChemPartner is exactly the kind of globally ambitious business that Discovery Park was built for. The decision to establish a first European scientific hub here is a powerful endorsement of our community, and we look forward to being part of their growth story.” 

ChemPartner marked the launch of its new hub with an opening event at Discovery Park on 10 April, attended by the Global Leadership team including William Woo, CEO and Chairman of ChemPartner.