Category: News

More than 1,600 local students from 49 schools across east Kent have taken part in the region’s largest ever science jamboree.

The annual two-day event, held at Discovery Park in Sandwich, transformed the science and business park into a hub of exploration and hands-on learning, bringing together young people, businesses and universities to learn about the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Organised by STEM Hub at Canterbury Christ Church University, the jamboree delivers a range of exciting practical scientific experiments and activities for the students to experience how STEM plays a part in everyday life; aiming to inspire them to consider further study and careers in STEM.  

Students stepped into the role of scientists, detectives and engineers as they explored the packed programme bringing STEM subjects to life.

They investigated data science, analysed fingerprints and used forensics to catch a culprit, and discovered the inner workings of the human body and the building blocks of anatomy with academics from Canterbury Christ Church University and Kent and Medway Medical School. 

Industry experts from Discovery Park based Resolian demonstrated the science behind surface tension, using the principles of physics and chemistry to help students create giant bubbles. Meanwhile, Asymchem helped them separate colours in ink and use chromatography techniques to solve the mystery of a stolen sandwich, and Pfizer ran three workshops, including looking at the science behind optical illusions making the students question if what they were seeing was real or if their eyes were playing tricks on them. 

Elsewhere, students took part in moth masterclasses with the Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Trust, tested their engineering skills building bridges with the Royal Engineers Museum, and learned how to build and create a filter system to provide clean water with Southern Water. 

Each day also featured a spectacular nitrogen science show, where everyday objects were frozen, clouds were created and everyday materials shattered to explain the dramatic effects temperature can have on matter.

Teachers from across Kent remarked at how engaging all the activities were, with their students enjoying the practical elements and were interested in ‘seeing school science come to life’. One primary teacher from Deal commented it was a “great opportunity for pupils to use thinking skills, ask questions of ‘real people’ working in STEM. It was good to be able to watch our future scientists!”.

Pam Lithgow, Director of Specialist Resources and Technical Services at Canterbury Christ Church U

niversity, said: “Once again we are delighted to work in partnership with Discovery Park and see so many young people attend, and enjoy the east Kent Science Jamboree. 

“The event aims to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators by giving them first-hand experience of the creativity, problem-solving and the real-world impact of STEM subjects. The jamboree continues to play a vital role in nurturing our future talent across the region, encouraging them to dream big, think freely and see how they can turn their ideas into reality.”

Chris Broom, Head of Business Development, Discovery Park, added: “Discovery Park exists to push the boundaries of science and innovation, and the Science Jamboree is a powerful reminder of why that mission matters. Now in our eleventh year hosting, it brings together an exceptional scientific community to show their work and open young people’s eyes to a career in scienc

e. It comes at a moment when our ambitions for STEM education in the region have never been greater. These are the future researchers, founders and problem-solvers who will shape this industry, and we’re proud to play a role in sparking that ambition early.”

Workshops were delivered by a mix of Discovery Park tenants and organisations from across Kent and beyond, including: Pfizer, Asymchem, Cummins, Resolian, Viatris, Unilabs York Bioanalytical Solutions, Canterbury Christ Church University, Kent and Medway Medical School, CodeKids Canterbury, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, The Royal Engineers Museum, Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Trust, Southern Water and the National Physical Laboratory.

Discovery Park, Kent’s science and innovation hub, has launched the seventh edition of its Discovery Spark accelerator programme, welcoming 12 startups to its campus in Sandwich.

The seventh cohort is themed around innovations in health, with startups selected based on the need for their innovation, the uniqueness of their solution, and the strength of their team. Throughout June, the selected founders will be attending specialist-led sessions in both Kent and London, focused on investor readiness, covering essential business topics from tax and finance, legal and governance essentials, and risk mitigation to performance and communications insights. The programme culminates with a competitive pitch day on 8 July to a panel of active investors and health specialists. 

First launched in 2023, the business growth programme has already supported 62 companies and 96 founders across six previous cohorts, with alumni securing £5.5m in UKRI funding and counting. Spark is designed to provide opportunities for startups to grow a network of peers, mentors and expert advisors, as part of a friendly and collaborative cohort.

 

Programme Lead Renos Savva, Head of Innovation and Venture Development at Discovery Park, commented: 

“Cohort 7.0 brings together a strong and diverse group of founders — tackling challenges across human and animal health, from chronic conditions to antimicrobial resistance and food allergy. The breadth and quality of applications we’ve received this year has been remarkable, and that’s reflected in the twelve companies we’ve selected. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be working intensively with every team to sharpen their investor narrative, stress-test their commercial strategy, and make sure they leave as investor-ready SMEs, increasing the odds of these fantastic innovations making their way into the hands of patients.”

Cohort 7.0 includes four women’s health focused startups, aiming to close the gender health gap and reduce the persistent diagnosis delays that affect millions of women across the UK.

• Ainia Empower: A femtech app connecting women to clinicians trained in gender-informed care.
• Avline Health: An at-home vaginal microbiome testing providing insight into urogenital, fertility, pregnancy, and hormonal health.
• OvaJoy: A digital health platform supporting people living with Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS, formerly PCOS).
• Vina Health: A digital clinical intelligence platform, aiming to close the 9-year average diagnosis delay for women with chronic pelvic conditions, endometriosis, fibroids, PMOS, and adenomyosis.

The Discovery Spark accelerator is open to UK-based science and technology startups and SMEs from all disciplines, with different themed cohorts throughout the year. Learn more about Discovery Spark and register interest for the next cohort: https://discovery-park.co.uk/lp/discovery-spark/ 

 

Details of 12 companies taking part in Discovery Spark Cohort 7.0 (listed alphabetically) 

 

Ainia Empower 

Ainia is a femtech platform built to close the gender pain gap by connecting women to clinicians trained in gender-informed care. Through an app, patients can track symptoms, identify patterns, and arrive at appointments with clinically meaningful data.

For clinicians, Ainia provides CPD-accredited training, certification in women’s pain and chronic conditions, and access to patient-generated insights before every consultation. 

As the platform grows, so does a proprietary longitudinal dataset, creating the foundation for future diagnostic tools, clinical research, and population-level insights.

 

Avline Health Ltd 

Avline Health is a women’s health life sciences company developing PelviBiomeTM, an at-home vaginal microbiome test and support pathway providing personalised, science-backed insight into urogenital, fertility, pregnancy, and hormonal health.

PelviBiomeTM helps women move from recurring symptoms, unclear explanations, and repeated short-term fixes towards clearer, evidence-informed conversations with healthcare professionals. The pathway combines discreet at-home sample collection, accredited laboratory analysis, personalised reporting, and expert-led interpretation.

 

Dermalere

Dermalere provides personalised prebiotic skincare based on a consumer’s skin microbiome. This is achieved through best-in-class testing, sequencing the skin microbiome using deep shotgun metagenomics. Dermalere then delivers personalised skincare products as a subscription model, using a proprietary model to match microbiome data with active ingredients (prebiotics) and targeted microbial formulations. The valuable microbiome data generated can also be monetised, driving the identification of novel biomarkers and design of small molecules. 

 

EquiCheckAI 

EquiCheckAI is a B2B company for the equine industry, using intelligence to bring immediate benefits to horse care, performance and welfare. Using proprietary technology and AI systems, the company converts daily observations and real world evidence into defensible longitudinal data to improve horse welfare, performance and risk decision making.

 

IgEDAPT

IgEDAPT is a biotechnology company developing next-generation therapeutic approaches for food allergy, aiming to address the challenges associated with real-world accidental exposures. Food allergies affect millions of people worldwide and place a significant physical and emotional burden on individuals and families. IgEDAPT is focused on developing innovative approaches intended to support people living with food allergies in everyday life.

 

Inherit Health 

Inherit Health is creating a secure-by-design, privacy-first digital ecosystem built to bridge the gaps between fragmented patient experiences, clinical decision-making, and research insight. The ecosystem comprises three integrated platforms: a patient-facing Personal Health Record with an app-based UI; a web-based information conduit for GPs; and a ‘smart’ research portal that enables frontline clinical research organisations.

 

In2cell Biosciences 

In2cell Biosciences is building a platform to detect DNA breaks at single-molecule

resolution. Named POLEX™, their advanced platform uses long-read sequencing to read single- and double-strand breaks directly on native DNA, with no PCR and no antibodies. The same read also carries epigenetic information, providing DNA break maps and methylation context from one sample. The company provides B2B services and support

for preclinical genotoxicity testing and CRISPR off-target characterisation in gene therapy. 

 

Modular Clinton Global (MCG) Limited 

MCG is a technology company specializing in supply chain traceability, carbon visibility, and the ‘Physical Internet.’ Through Innovate UK funded projects, they have demonstrated experience in maritime shipping digitization and decarbonization, leveraging AI and blockchain — and are keen to explore how these capabilities could apply within health and life sciences supply chains. They plan to commercialize “Jelly Ice Cube”, a novel cryo-packaging for sensitive biological supply chain resilience and sustainability.

 

OvaJoy 

OvaJoy is a digital health platform supporting people with Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS, formerly PCOS). OvaJoy provides a personalised platform that integrates lifestyle tracking, symptom monitoring, and optional at-home biomarker testing to help people better understand and manage their condition. Currently migrating to a mobile app, OvaJoy is developing a novel approach by combining multiple data sources to deliver structured, evidence-informed guidance for lifestyle interventions.

 

Soule 

Soule is a healthtech company developing an intelligent neurohaptic platform to help support nervous system regulation, stress recovery and sleep. Combining gentle touch-based stimulation through the feet with synchronised audio, Soule is creating a body-led multi-sensory experience designed to help people feel calmer and recover more effectively. 

 

VacTimmune 

VacTimmune is developing next-generation vaccines for antimicrobial-resistant bacterial infections. Antibiotics are becoming less effective, and for infections such

as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, patients are running out of reliable treatment options. VacTimmune identifies vaccine antigens that activate both antibody and cellular immune responses, driving the coordinated immunity actually needed for effective bacterial clearance. VacTimmune’s wider ambition is to build a scalable vaccine company capable of developing vaccines for infections that antibiotics can no longer reliably treat. 

 

Vina Health App Ltd 

Vina Health is a digital clinical intelligence platform closing the 9-year average diagnosis delay for women with chronic pelvic conditions, endometriosis, fibroids, PMOS, and adenomyosis. To support women with articulating months of complex, fluctuating symptoms, Vina’s app allows women to log their symptoms in under 60 seconds daily. The platform generates pattern intelligence across their cycle and produces a structured pre-appointment clinical summary with the longitudinal evidence a doctor needs to act at the first appointment, not the fifteenth.

Lean In Circles launch in June – connecting women to build skills, find support, and be boldly ambitious.

Lean In Circles are small peer groups (6-8 women) meeting monthly to support each other’s career development – sharing challenges, reframing problems, and building confidence through structured discussion.

Grounded in real world research and proven strategies the Lean In Circle concept was launched in March 2013 by Sheryl Sandberg, in conjunction with the publication of her bestselling book, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead.

Who is it for?
• Early career – stand out and grow faster
• Mid-career – feeling stuck or seeking your next move
• Senior leaders – overcome blockers and mentor others

Why join?
Can you spare 1 hour a month for 6 months to invest in your career?
Looking to build confidence, expand your network, and unlock new opportunities?
Ready to connect meaningfully with a small, trusted group of women?

What you’ll gain
• Fresh perspectives and practical solutions
• Increased confidence and self-awareness
• A strong network (6-8 peers with extended reach)

Open to all women (Discovery Park tenants and local professionals), and free to join.

Find out more here and sign up here. Register by 29 May.

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

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.

Discovery Park, Kent’s science and innovation hub, has launched the sixth edition of its Discovery Spark accelerator programme, welcoming 11 startups to its campus in Sandwich.

 

The business growth programme has already supported 50 companies and 76 founders, with alumni securing £5.5m in UKRI funding since launching in 2023. For Cohort 6.0, the startups were selected based on the need for their innovation, the uniqueness of their solution, and the strength of their team. Spark is designed to provide opportunities for companies to grow a network of peers, mentors and expert advisors, as part of a friendly and collaborative cohort. 

 

Throughout March and April, the Cohort 6.0 founders will be attending specialist-led sessions focused on investor readiness, covering essential business topics from tax and finance to storytelling and branding. The programme culminates with a competitive pitch day on 30 April to a panel of active investors. 

 

Cohort 6.0 includes three local companies from Kent, all based at Discovery Park. Green innovator Hydro Flow Energy is harnessing the natural rise and fall of the tide to deliver predictable and grid-stable power. Protein startup MilaK is developing next-generation bioactive milk proteins through precision fermentation, providing animal-free products for nutrition. Energy technology expert Colliding Materials is developing scalable, low-cost graphene composite technology for flow battery and fuel cell manufacturers.

 

The cohort also draws talent from across the UK, including Belfast-based BlokBio which is aiming to accelerate drug discovery cycles through better genomic data analysis workflows. London-based Veirulence is developing a new class of antibacterial drug, and RoboRNA from Durham is working on smarter ways to package and deliver RNA therapeutics to the right cells in the body, taking inspiration from viruses in nature. 

 

Programme Lead Renos Savva, Head of Innovation and Venture Development at Discovery Park, commented: 

 

“Cohort 6.0 brings together an exceptionally diverse group of founders — solving challenges from greener energy to new antibacterial drugs. That breadth reflects both the strength of applications we received and the versatility of the Discovery Spark programme. Over the coming weeks, we’ll work closely with each company to sharpen their commercial strategy, investor narrative and growth plans. The goal, as always, is to leave every founder better equipped to secure funding and scale their business.”

 

The accelerator is open to UK-based science and technology startups and SMEs from all disciplines. Learn more about Discovery Spark and register interest for the next cohort: https://discovery-park.co.uk/lp/discovery-spark/ 

 

Details of 11 companies taking part in Discovery Spark Cohort 6.0 (listed alphabetically): 

 

Anthera Remediation Technologies

Anthera is a remediation technology provider focused on PFAS, the so-called ‘forever chemicals’ that contaminate drinking water and soil. Aiming to make remediation simple, effective, and affordable, Anthera has developed an advanced photocatalytic oxidation process that destroys up to 90% of PFAS – with lower operational costs and less energy compared to current methods.

 

BlokBio 

BlokBio builds RNA evidence infrastructure — the governed layer that makes RNA experimental outputs reusable across programmes, teams, and AI systems. Already deployed in paid RNA target discovery programmes in oncology, BlokBio plans to launch a self-serve analysis platform where researchers can access decision-grade RNA analysis directly, removing bottlenecks in genomic data analysis workflows. 

 

Colliding Materials

Colliding Materials is developing scalable, low-cost graphene composite technology for energy systems such as flow battery and fuel cell manufacturers. Colliding Materials has a know-how-protected process producing graphene-enhanced composites that are formed into bipolar plates for integration into next-generation energy systems, improving performance whilst reducing costs. 

 

Hydro Flow Energy 

Hydro Flow Energy is developing TideMaster technology — a patent-pending tidal energy generation system that harnesses the natural rise and fall of the tide to deliver consistently predictable, grid-stable power. TideMaster converts the vertical motion of tidal cycles into rotational energy via a novel buoyancy mechanism, generating clean power continuously, 24 hours a day, without disrupting marine ecosystems. 

 

Kratu

Kratu is a technology-driven education startup focused on improving learning outcomes for children with learning difficulties, designing and delivering scalable learning and diagnostic tools that address real-world learning needs and help bridge critical skill gaps. Their goal is to create an inclusive learning ecosystem where individuals, families, and educators can access continuous, personalised support both within and beyond traditional institutions. 

 

MilaK

MilaK is developing next-generation bioactive milk proteins through precision fermentation. Their mission is to produce human-identical, animal-free dairy proteins that support immune resilience, iron regulation, and metabolic health while significantly reducing the environmental footprint of traditional dairy production. 

 

Project Navarro

Project Navarro is aiming to establish an oncology-focused first-in-class drug discovery programme based on a novel biochemical network modelling approach. The use of powerful modelling technology supports the selection of drug targets and method/modality, supporting intelligent drug discovery with potentially revolutionary impacts on the lives of patients. 

 

RoboRNA

RoboRNA is focused on next-generation RNA therapeutics. The company’s mission is to tackle two of the field’s most pressing challenges: RNA instability and tissue-specific delivery. To address these bottlenecks, they are developing a set of RNA packaging and delivery solutions for tissue-specific, programmable delivery, taking inspiration from viral entry and viral RNA delivery mechanisms.

 

Valaya Bio

Valaya Bio is developing a novel disease-modifying therapeutic strategy for Parkinson’s Disease, focused on upstream modulation of key biological control points that influence multiple pathological processes. Their innovation employs precision oligonucleotide technology designed to selectively modulate master regulators of disease networks, enabling coordinated influence across dysfunctional pathways that drive Parkinson’s Disease progression. 

 

VectorisBio

VectorisBio is developing advanced purification technologies for viral vectors used in cell and gene therapy, aiming to accelerate the development and accessibility of next-generation biologic medicines. Their proprietary platform designs and synthesises novel synthetic affinity ligands capable of selectively binding viral vectors. These ligands can be integrated into membrane and chromatography-based purification systems to enable faster, more efficient capture and purification while maintaining high yield and product quality. 

 

Veirulence

Veirulence is developing a new class of antibacterial drug – virulence factor (VF) targeting therapies. VF-targeting therapies can achieve improved patient outcomes by “disarming” bacteria. Inhibition of VFs reduces bacterial virulence, can potentiate antibiotics and delay the development of resistance. Veirulence’s first-in-class small molecule therapeutic aims to reduce mortality in haem malignancy patients with Gram-negative infections.

 

Interested in joining a future cohort? Find out more and register here.

SignaCor Therapeutics has been named the winner of Discovery Park’s startup growth programme for innovations in cardiovascular health, securing £250k in funding from venture capital firm Zinc. This investment forms part of a £1M seed round expected to close in April. 

 

Northern Ireland-based SignaCor is developing medicines for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, where thickening of the heart muscle makes it harder for blood to be pumped around the body. This genetically inherited cardiac disorder affects around 1 in 500 people in the UK.

 

Led by CEO Darach Neeson and CSO Dr Chris Watson, SignaCor is working on a new first-in-class treatment to reverse heart damage and prevent further deterioration of heart muscles. SignaCor aims to address the underlying disease pathology for the first time, leading to better quality of life and longer life expectancies for patients.

 

Discovery Spark is a business growth programme for founders working in life sciences, with specialist-led sessions and mentoring spread over seven weeks. A cohort of eight promising cardiovascular and cardiometabolic companies took part, culminating in a pitch day with investors at Zinc’s London offices at the end of 2025. SignaCor was recognised as the overall winner for their standout pitch presentation, experienced team and clear market need.

 

Programme Lead Renos Savva, Head of Innovation and Venture Development at Discovery Park, commented: 

“SignaCor’s success is a testament to what’s possible when you combine scientific rigour with the right support network. Discovery Spark is designed to bridge the gap between a great idea and a credible business, and seeing that translate into real investment is enormously rewarding. The cardiovascular space is ripe for innovation, and we’re proud that Discovery Spark is helping to drive it forward.”

 

Natalie Pankova, Partner, Health and Life Science at Zinc, said: 

“Zinc’s partnership with Discovery Spark helped surface some really exciting companies capable of delivering meaningful advances for patient impact, and we’re thrilled to have been able to make this investment in SignaCor. Cardiovascular disease continues to represent one of the greatest unmet challenges in global health. What stood out about SignaCor was the strength of the science combined with a clear, executable path to clinical impact. SignaCor’s progress and success through the programme demonstrates the power of combining science with the right venture and ecosystem support. ”

 

Darach Neeson, CEO at SignaCor, said: 

“The Spark programme’s content was exceptional – value-filled insights from UK life science industry experts and meaningful investor engagement. The lessons learned have influenced our strategy, and we would absolutely recommend it to other founders. We are excited to now join Zinc’s portfolio of innovative life science companies. This funding will allow us to execute our Phase 2a trial plans and advance our regulatory strategy, bringing us closer to delivering a new treatment for patients with limited treatment options.” 

 

As the fifth iteration of the Spark programme, the cohort’s focus on heart health was selected for its high burden on lives, with cardiovascular diseases accounting for 1 in 4 of all deaths in the UK. 

 

Hosted by Kent’s innovation ecosystem Discovery Park, Cohort 5.0 was partnered with Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex, providing participants with valuable contacts across NHS and academia, plus Zinc VC, delivering direct connections to potential investors. The programme is also designed to provide opportunities for founders to grow a network of peers, mentors and expert advisors, as part of a friendly and collaborative cohort. 

 

A sixth cohort of Discovery Spark is starting in mid-March, with an open tech focus. Founders interested in taking part in a future Discovery Spark cohort should register their interest: https://discovery-park.co.uk/discovery-spark/

 

Discovery Spark: Cohort 5.0 Participants (listed alphabetically)  

 

Coblum – Awarded third place 

Coblum empowers bystanders to save lives when cardiac arrest strikes. By automating CPR and defibrillation, their device removes panic and skill barriers to deliver complete first aid within seconds. No skills. No strength. Just set it up — Coblum takes over.

 

Dimension Biotechnologies – Awarded second place 

Dimension aims to make microvascular disease (damage to the microscopic blood vessels that feed organs with a constant supply of blood) routinely detectable by doctors. They are developing the first liquid biopsies for microvascular health and disease, providing insight into currently inaccessible parts of the circulatory system for earlier diagnosis and treatment. 

 

HeartGuard

HeartGuard aims to make heart health simple, convenient and accessible. A smartphone application and newsletter helps to alleviate some of the mental health burdens of living with heart disease, coupled with a supplement to support physical heart health. 

 

MediPacks

MediPacks is developing next-generation pharmaceutical solutions for use in medical emergencies outside of the hospital, with an initial focus on cardiovascular events such as heart attacks. Their mission is to empower faster intervention, reduce avoidable deaths, and transform emergency care at the community level.

 

Oxy Genomics

Focusing on women’s cardiovascular health, Oxy Genomics is aiming to transform cardiovascular disease detection through advanced multiomics and AI technologies, which can identify novel, early-stage biomarkers that traditional diagnostics often miss.

 

Persis Health Innovation (PHI) 

PHI is developing a non-invasive, AI-powered biosensor that detects key cardiovascular biomarkers. They are aiming to transform the future of women’s health through earlier detection and preventive care for cardiovascular disease. 

 

QDR Health

QDR Health is building a clinical and financial operating system for heart failure, anchored by a predictive algorithm, a clinician tool, and a patient-facing AI agent. They aim to support timely and appropriate follow-up care, improving health outcomes. 

 

SignaCor – Awarded first place 

SignaCor is a clinical stage drug development company developing a first-in-class treatment for symptomatic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickening of the heart muscle), going beyond symptom management to target the underlying disease pathology.

 

 

Interested in joining a future cohort? Find out more and register here.

Discovery Park and University of Kent will host their third joint Innovation Showcase on Thursday, 5th March, bringing together academics, industry, clinical partners and funders. 

 

The showcase explores the progress and impact of research projects funded through the Kent UKRI Impact Acceleration Accounts (IAAs), a strategic investment programme designed to accelerate the real-world impact of research. 

 

This event aims to shape future innovation projects and provides opportunities for academics and stakeholders to give feedback on IAAs. Along with presentations and a panel discussion including academic and business leaders, plus experts from Innovate UK and the Medical Research Council, there is a dedicated networking session to connect attendees with potential Kent-based collaborators and new partners. 

 

University of Kent event co-organiser Michelle D. Garrett, PhD, Professor of Cancer Therapeutics, School of Natural Sciences, said: “Our third Innovation Showcase is a celebration of collaboration and the exciting possibilities that emerge when academia, industry and clinical stakeholders work together. Attendees will see first-hand how Kent researchers are turning innovative ideas into impact, and have the chance to explore new partnerships that could shape the next wave of breakthroughs. I’d encourage anyone interested in innovation – whether you’re an academic, funder, clinical or industry partner – to join us on 5th March.”

Sponsored by intellectual property law experts Appleyard Lees, the event includes a panel session on the opportunities and challenges of IP transfer and commercialising research.

 

The Innovation Showcase event is free and open to all, taking place from 10am to 3pm on 5th March at Discovery Park.

Register here.

Sandwich, UK – 9 February 2026: To mark National Apprenticeship Week (9 – 15 February), Kent’s science and technology hub Discovery Park is calling for more young people to consider higher apprenticeships as a route into rewarding careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths). 

Last year, 3,850 young people in Kent started a higher apprenticeship programme, a 22% increase on the previous year. Higher apprenticeships include degree apprenticeships – where students gain a full undergraduate or master’s degree without student fees – and also Higher National Diplomas and foundation-level qualifications. These courses allow students to gain essential qualifications and invaluable work experience whilst earning a salary. 

Discovery Park currently has 21 higher apprentices on programme at the site, working in companies including Pfizer and Asymchem. Their apprenticeships range from science roles to project management. 

Phoebe Everitt, who is undertaking an apprenticeship in data science at Pfizer, said: “Starting an apprenticeship at Pfizer has given me many opportunities that I wouldn’t have received without being in the workplace. It has allowed me to experience working in a professional environment and seeing how what I learn in my degree is practically used in the field of data science. I am getting to work towards my degree while gaining work experience and many new practical skills that will be useful in future.

“I have also found Pfizer to be a very supportive place to work and it’s allowed me to meet many people who have a variety of experience that they can pass on to me.”

Not-for-profit Cogent Skills delivers apprenticeship programmes at Discovery Park and across the UK. As a science and technology specialist, Cogent provides development opportunities for young people while helping businesses access the skilled talent they need. 

Tim Mahoney, Skills Account Manager at Cogent Skills, said: “Higher apprenticeships are one of the most effective ways to build a skilled STEM workforce. They provide students with high-level qualifications alongside real, hands-on experience in industry. For employers, they offer a direct route to work-ready talent with the specialist skills the science and technology sectors urgently need. We’re proud to work with Discovery Park to support both young people and businesses across Kent and beyond.”

Chris Broom, Head of Business Development at Discovery Park, added: “The South East has the highest levels of life science employment in the UK – even ahead of London. As a major Kent employer, we see firsthand how higher apprenticeships are transforming lives. Young people gain world-class qualifications without student debt, while businesses develop their talent pipeline for the future. It’s a win-win that more young people should consider.” 

Apprenticeship opportunities are currently available at Discovery Park, offering salaries of £20,500 per annum. Interested applicants can view vacancies and apply via Cogent’s website.

As part of Discovery Park’s commitment to STEM education, a new sixth form, named Carbon 6 Academy of Science, will open onsite in September 2026, allowing students to study A-Levels in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths. The school will bring education and industry together, providing real world experience and clear routes into higher apprenticeships and STEM careers. https://discovery-park.co.uk/lp/carbon-6-academy-of-science/

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Particology, a specialist particle science company based at science and business hub Discovery Park, has been selected for an £8.2M Government-funded research consortium to make the manufacture of medicines more efficient and sustainable. 

The three-and-a-half year research project is part of Innovate UK’s £54M Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Programme and is one of eight “Grand Challenge” projects to develop and demonstrate novel technologies for greener, more efficient medicines manufacturing. 

The consortium’s investment has already allowed Particology to hire a new Spectroscopy Research Associate, based on-site in Sandwich, to begin work in January. 

Particology is focusing on the crystallisation of active pharmaceutical ingredients as the project’s industry lead in that area, using particle science and precision sensing to study crystals in greater detail than ever seen before. Crystallisation is an important step in the development of many drugs, purifying the active ingredients before they are packaged as a tablet or capsule. Particology’s research will advance real-time confirmation of crystallisation quality, meaning medicines can be made with fewer materials and waste products, and lower power requirements. The Particology team will carry out initial testing and development work on paracetamol and other common medicines, with the end goal of creating new technology for medicine manufacturers all over the world, driving economic growth and keeping the UK at the forefront of innovation. 

 

Dr John Murphy, Chief Operating Officer at Particology, said: “This innovative programme will transform the future of medicines manufacture, making production more efficient and sustainable. The investment from Innovate UK has already allowed us to expand our team and work with local partners, providing a much-needed boost to the scientific ecosystem right here in Kent.” 

 

Mark Talford, Deputy Director for Medicines Manufacturing at Innovate UK, said: “With funding from the VPAG Investment Programme, Innovate UK’s Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Programme is driving greener, more efficient approaches to medicines production. Seeing Particology lead this work at Discovery Park in Kent demonstrates how regional innovation can deliver national impact. This collaboration will not only advance cutting-edge crystallisation technologies but also create high-value jobs and expertise, reinforcing Kent’s long-standing role in the UK’s life sciences sector and helping keep the UK at the forefront of global pharmaceutical manufacturing.”

 

Chris Broom, Head of Business Development at Discovery Park, added: “This latest Innovate UK grant is testament to the incredible expertise of the Particology team. Bringing this project to Kent demonstrates what’s possible when you combine world-class scientific talent with supportive infrastructure. Discovery Park is proud to be home to game-changing research on sustainable medicines manufacture.”

 

Founded in 2024 by seven co-founders all local to Sandwich, Particology has now almost doubled its headcount to 12 team members and counting, offering services to clients across pharmaceutical, food, agriculture and cosmetics industries. All of Particology’s co-founders formerly worked for Pfizer, taking a leap to start Particology to keep scientific talent in Kent and create new employment opportunities. 

The research consortium was impressed with Discovery Park’s world-class facilities, laboratories and infrastructure when visiting Particology as part of their application. The ecosystem at Discovery Park has also supported their business, with the team receiving guidance on company set up, along with advice and services from on-site suppliers.

The project will run until 2029, with results expected to position the UK as a global leader in sustainable medicines manufacturing while creating high-value jobs and expertise in Kent.