New strategic partnership to fast-track Deep Tech innovation in the UK
Science Creates and NCC unite to scale world-class research into globally competitive companies, supporting the ambitions of the UK’s new Industrial Strategy.
Two of the UK’s leading innovation organisations — Science Creates, the Deep Tech ecosystem supporting startups with lab space, training and early-stage investment, and NCC, a world-class innovation organisation helping businesses of all sizes bridge the gap between cutting-edge innovation and industrial application — today announce a partnership to accelerate and scale the impact of the South West’s Deep Tech ecosystem.
The UK is home to world-leading research in AI, engineering biology and advanced materials, and at their intersections lie even greater opportunities to develop platform technologies for personalised healthcare, tackling material scarcity, creating sustainable materials, accelerating advanced manufacturing process and advancing future food production.
The new Industrial Strategy has set an ambition for the UK to lead globally in these sectors, and this partnership directly supports those goals by connecting scientific breakthroughs with the industrial capability, infrastructure and investment needed to turn them into world-changing businesses.
By combining Science Creates’ track record of incubating Deep Tech ventures with NCC’s world-class capabilities in industrial innovation and scaling, the partnership will create an integrated ecosystem of transformative companies and accelerate industrial transformation.
Together, Science Creates and NCC will:
- Support rapid scale-up of Deep Tech ventures by linking them with industry leaders, investors, and state-of-the-art facilities.
- Launch collaborative R&D projects, including pioneering uses of AI and engineering biology, to drive new product and process innovations.
- Establish co-located spaces, providing companies with exposure to both commercial and defence-sector opportunities.
- Build a Deep Tech network for Deep Tech founders and C-suite members, who will be supported by both organisations through tailored events, forums and other community support.
This strategic partnership will both embed and scale the region’s Deep Tech cluster and deliver impact nationally — supporting the commercialisation of world-class research, boosting regional innovation, and strengthening the UK’s position in the Industrial Strategy’s priority sectors.
The Deep Tech Network will be launching in early 2026. If you are a Deep Tech founder or C-suite member and you would like to join, register your interest in the link below.
Case study: Deep Tech impact in action
Kelpi – scaling sustainable materials
Kelpi, a startup tackling the global plastic problem, is creating seaweed-based alternatives to replace fossil fuel-based plastic packaging. Early in its journey, the team moved into the Science Creates Old Market incubator, and SCVC — Science Creates’ venture capital arm — led Kelpi’s £3m seed round in 2022. Later, Kelpi engaged with NCC through the Made Smarter programme, funded through the Mayoral Combined Authority, gaining expert sessions that helped refine their roadmap, identify inefficiencies and opportunities, and address knowledge gaps. The structured support, combined with entrepreneurial guidance from Science Creates, has enabled Kelpi to accelerate material development timelines and scale its sustainable packaging innovation.
“We are excited to deepen our relationship with Science Creates and build a truly connected innovation ecosystem,” said Richard Oldfield, CEO of NCC. “Together, we can create the environment that ambitious Deep Tech companies need to grow, connect them with industrial customers, and bring transformative technologies to market.”
Dr Harry Destecroix MBE, Founder of Science Creates, said: “The new Industrial Strategy makes clear that the UK must do more to scale world-class science into globally competitive companies. By working with NCC, we are equipping Deep Tech founders with the industrial pathways, infrastructure and investment they need to succeed, and ensuring the South West plays a leading role in delivering national impact.”
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: “We are proud of the West of England’s entrepreneurial and innovative culture. Collaboration like this enables skills and expertise to collide, facilitating the scale-up of businesses in the sector. This new partnership between Science Creates and NCC can help accelerate routes to market and ultimately driving economic growth and creating more jobs, adding to the £3.8 billion contribution to our regional economy already made by the digital and tech sectors.”
If you're an SME in early-stage Deep Tech in the South West keen to learn how this partnership can support your growth journey, contact our dedicated team for support.