Category: Events

Growing Kent & Medway Showcase Celebration

Meet exciting plant-based food and drink businesses and hear from the innovators and researchers making our horticultural food systems more sustainable.

The event will include:

  • Talks from local policy makers and funders
  • Presentations on cutting-edge science and technology developments in food and farming
  • Taste new food and drink products developed with support from Growing Kent & Medway
  • Network with other Growing Kent & Medway members; businesses, technical research specialists, funders, and business support experts
  • Tours of Niab’s research facilities, including the glasshouses, Wine Innovation Centre, research vineyards and growth rooms
  • Plus, hear about the next phase of place-based innovation for our sector.

The morning will feature talks and presentations at the Orchards Event Centre, East Malling, before we move to the Mumford Building for networking, lunch and demonstration displays.

Lunch will be provided on the terrace overlooking the Niab vineyards.

Limited places are available for businesses to display their products during the networking session. Please email contact@growingkentandmedway.com if you would like to request a table.

We hope you can join us for this free event to celebrate the brilliant innovation taking place across our supply chains.

Find more information here.

Table Tennis Tournament

Get ready for another fast-paced, fun-filled day of table tennis! This tournament is open to everyone – pro or no! 

This event it about bringing our community together – expect plenty of friendly rivalries and lots of cheering!

How it works:

  • Random hat draw to decide your first match
  • 15-minute games – short, sharp, and packed with energy
  • Winners battle it out until we crown the Table Tennis Champion 2025

Perks of the event:

  • Prizes up for grabs for the champion and runner-up
  • Refreshments to keep you fuelled throughout the day
  • A great chance to meet new people

Be part of it – email us at info@discovery-park.co.uk to enter. This is expected to be an all-day event, but timings will be confirmed once we know the number of people participating.

CADDA at Barclays Eagle Labs Café

📅 Thursday, 6th November ⏰ 10:00 – 12:00 PM 📍 Barclays Eagle Labs, Discovery Park

The Centre for Advanced Diagnostics Development and Application (CADDA) is hosting a café-style event at Barclays Eagle Labs, Sandwich, designed to connect with diagnostics companies from across the region.

CADDA is a strategic programme with funding support from Research England.
It is a national programme set to drive innovation in human and animal diagnostics. CADDA is led by the University of Kent in partnership with The University of Manchester and University College London (UCL).

This informal session is an opportunity to:

  • Learn more about CADDA and the support we can offer diagnostics businesses
  • Explore our Knowledge Transfer Vouchers (CKTVs)
  • Discover the benefits of joining our Community of Practice (membership is free)
  • Network with CADDA’s team and other diagnostics organisations

Tea and coffee will be provided, and the session is open to all organisations with an interest in advancing diagnostics.

While registration isn’t required, we kindly ask you to sign up via Eventbrite (link) so we can tailor the session and make sure there’s enough coffee to go around.

If you’re unable to attend but would like to know more about CADDA or discuss opportunities to collaborate, please contact us at cadda@kent.ac.uk

We look forward to welcoming you to the Café and exploring how we can work together to drive diagnostics innovation.

Startup Roadshow

📅 Thursday, 25th September ⏰ 10:00 – 12:30 PM 📍 Fruitworks Coworking, Canterbury

South East Angels are excited to host their next Startup Roadshow in Kent, Canterbury on the 25th September, a free event bringing together founders, investors and others in the startup ecosystem for a morning of networking and startup showcases, with a panel of investor judges. This event, run by South East Angels, is a great opportunity for startups to present their ideas via a quickfire pitching session, and network with local funders and founders.

🔗For more information and to get your tickets

The 9th Kent ENdoscopy Training Course on Endo-surgical Insight in Colorectal, Gastric, Oesophageal and HPB lesions

📅 September 30, 2025 – October 2, 2025 ⏰ 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM 📍 Building 500, Discovery Park

A warm welcome to the K.EN.T Course 2025, a 3–day course which is taking place in Discovery Park, Sandwich, Kent on the 30th of September to the 1st of October 2025, now in its 9th successful year. The hands-on training day will be held at the academic premises of Discovery Park on the 2nd of October 2025.

🔗For more information and to get your tickets

£1 Rediscovery Charity Sale

📅 3rd Wednesday-4th Thursday September ⏰ 10:00-16:00 📍 Magellan Suite, Innovation House

Bag a bargain and make a difference! Our onsite charity shop is holding a £1 Sale – every purchase helps support the local community. Everyone welcome. Free parking at Discovery Park’s Visitor Centre.

Collaborate & Innovate: Building Resilient Science Together

📅 Wednesday 15th October 2025 📍 Magellan Suite, Discovery Park

 

Why Attend

  • See real-world examples of collaboration delivering results
  • Experience Discovery Park through a guided tour of its facilities
  • Make valuable connections with potential partners and customers
  • Discover the benefits of joining a vibrant science park community
  • Whether you’re a startup, scale-up, or established player in life sciences, this is your opportunity to connect, learn, and see why being part of Discovery Park can take your research further.

 

Agenda

13:00 – Welcome & Introduction

Brief opening remarks on the importance of collaboration and community in driving scientific resilience.

13:10 – Keynote Session: Collaboration in Action

Three short presentations from companies already working together on-site.

13:40 – Speed Networking

Fast-paced introductions designed to connect innovators, entrepreneurs, and researchers. An opportunity to meet potential collaborators, partners, and customers.

14:10 – Guided Tour of Discovery Park

Explore adaptable wet lab spaces, co-working areas, and collaborative hubs. See first-hand how the infrastructure supports innovation.

14:30 – Closing Remarks & Informal Networking

Continue conversations over refreshments and explore further opportunities within the Discovery Park ecosystem.

Register to attend here

Macmillan Coffee Morning

📅 Wednesday 24th September 2025 📍 Innovation House, 2nd Floor, opposite the Social Zone

From 11am until the last slice is gone, we’ll be serving delicious cakes and treats in support of Macmillan Cancer Support.

If you’d like to get involved, you can either whip up something tasty at home or pick up a sweet treat from the shop — just let Janice know at J.Noble@newappointmentsgroup.co.uk.

Or, simply drop by, join the fun, and help us in the most enjoyable way possible… by eating cake! 🍰

 

Unbe-leaf-able Free Salad

📅 Thursday 21st August 2025 📍 Innovation House Foyer

GrowUp will be showing up at Innovation House with free salad bags worth leaf-ing your desk for. No pesticides, no cutlery, no fuss – just bags full of bold, fresh flavour.

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