UKSPA Conference
Greenlight Computers Ltd joined UKSPA as an affiliate partner member in 2024 and attended our first conference in October 2024.
Greenlight Computers provides resilient connectivity solutions to science parks, IT support services to landlords and IT support services to tenant/occupier companies. All services provided operate to regulated and accredited standards including ISO 9001, ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials plus and GxP. Find out more.
UKSPA
The UK Science Park Association (UKSPA) is an organisation that represents and supports science parks, innovation centres, incubators, and other areas focused on promoting innovation, life sciences and technology-based businesses in the UK. It plays a key role in fostering collaboration between businesses, universities, and research institutions, particularly in science, technology, engineering, life sciences, and healthcare sectors. Find out more.
UKSPA 40th Anniversary Conference 2024
October 2024 saw the largest conference in the 40 years history of UKSPA between the 16th & 18th October at the University of Warwick.
Over 300 delegates from across the UK for 3 days talking about how we make our science parks even better, having the opportunity to hear from experts across the world of politics, science, technology, innovation, investment, sustainability and renewable energy, AI, diversity & inclusivity.
Special Mention
The UKSPA team did a great job with special reference to James Chaffer (CEO), James Sell (Head of Membership) and John Leake (Chair).
The Conference
Wednesday was a pre-conference get together and informal dinner at the British Motor Museum, it was great for our CEO Gary Dodson to meet some new colleagues and some more regular friends and partners.
Highlight of the evening for our CEO Gary Dodson was seeing the Ford Anglia used in the Harry Potter movies as his first car was a Ford Anglia in the 1980’s.
Thursday was the start of main conference with registration from 8.00 am and closure of the gala dinner at 23.30 pm. A long but hugely interesting and enjoyable day.
The Plenary 3.2 LIFE SCIENCES POLICY BACKDROP chaired by Sir Mark Caulfield being the highlight of the day for many of the attendees.
Friday was the final day with again some exceptional content and thought-provoking topics from great speakers.
The session on AI latterly on Thursday was fascinating with speakers discussing how to regulate a world that moves at a pace not seen before.
With Varvn Aryacetas Chief Futurist at Deloitte Ventures showing us what to expect in the next decade.
Gala Dinner
Held at the Slate Conference venue University of Warwick.
Greenlight were placed on a table with colleagues from University of Wolverhampton Science Park (Lynsey Whitfield & Nigel Babb) and one of their tenant companies WOW! Stuff, who were successful in winning the annual innovation award on the night.
It was great to see our friends at Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst successful in the Most Successful Science Park – Small category, well done folks.
Some of the Notable Names
The list below highlights just some of the notable presenters on the main stage at the conference, a prestigious list for sure, some exceptional insight and challenge to ensure the Science Park movement continues to grow and enable innovation.
- Science Minister – Lord Patrick Vallance
- CEO Research England – Jessica Corner
- Competitiveness Director CBI – Jordan Cummins
- CMO British Business Bank – Angelene Woodland Singleton
- Member of Parliament – George Freeman
- Project Director National Gas – Danielle Stewart
- CSA Department of Energy Security & Net Zero – Paul Monks
- Professor Oxford Brookes University – Tim Vorley OBE
- CEO Centre for Cities – Andrew Carter
- Specialist in economics SQW – Christine Doel
- CEO International Science Park Association – Ebba Lund
- Exec Director Innovate UK – Dean Cook
- CEO Pioneer Group – Richard O’Boyle
- VP Health Queen Mary’s Faculty of Medicine – Professor Sir Mark Caulfield
- CEO Scale Up Institute – Irene Graham
- CEO MHRA – Dame June Raine
- Exec Director Cambridge Health Partners – Kristin-Ann Rutter
The selective events also had some great speakers but way too many to mention all of them here, further details are available via UKSPA.
IT Service Providers Represented
Special mention for the IT service providers Modern Networks, Communicate Technology and Greenlight Computers all supporting the UKSPA journey.
Each played their part at the conference with Communicate Technology and Modern Networks sponsoring elements of the conference as regular attendees and both shortlisted for Partnership Awards with Communicate Technology winning.
Greenlight Computers – Customer Service Shortlisting
Most pleasingly Greenlight Computers were shortlisted for the Customer Service Award in our first year.
Customer service is the cornerstone of the Greenlight Computers approach, partnering with Science Parks using onsite technical resource to support and enable the tenant/occupier companies thrive. Find out more.
What’s Next?
2025 will see Greenlight Computers continue to focus on providing resilient communication infrastructures to science parks and excellent IT support to both landlords and tenant/occupiers.
We look forward to hopefully winning the Customer Service Award at the UKSPA 2025 conference.
If you would like to discuss your IT support or communications infrastructure strategy with a Greenlight Computers Director, please contact us in confidence.
