The SCIENCE X ENTERPRISE event series is all about making a positive difference to the wider world. It is for anyone interested in learning more about how to turn science ideas and research into tangible products. This series exists to help you find the people, space and resources you need to take the next step in the journey towards making your vision of the future a reality. For our first event, ELEMENTS OF STARTING A SCIENCE ENTERPRISE, we will be discussing the following three items:

Identifying and prioritising problems in need of solutions

Ana is Head of Good Problems at Science Practice. The Good Problems Team supports funding organisations, investors and philanthropies identify and prioritise real problems in need of solutions and design suitable ways to incentivise innovation. Ana has led a number of projects designing challenge prizes and innovation funding calls around specific problems in healthcare, energy, food and water sustainability, transportation, and humanitarian aid. She has previously worked at innovation foundation Nesta, researching emerging technologies and trends in social venture incubation. She also ran a six-week pre-accelerator programme for early-stage startups in London and helped organise a number of Startup Weekend hackathons.

Providing affordable access to science

Tobias is the co-founder of Clustermarket. Cluster market is an online marketplace helping scientists to rent lab equipment from nearby institutions and find the best service providers. Scientists from any field can register on the platform and access latest technology, or share their own technology with others through the platform. In addition to The platform is also not only about sharing equipment but also about pooling analysis, expertise and infrastructure. Through Clustermarket’s services, researchers’ day-to-day worklife is finally becoming easier and research projects more affordable. This is especially true for younger startups from the life sciences sector that don’t have the financial resources to access to high quality laboratory equipment on a permanent basis.

Communicating ideas and findings

Gemma is a science and technology consultant, and co-founder of Science:Disrupt - an organisation connecting the innovators, iconoclasts & entrepreneurs intent on creating change in science. Science:Disrupt produces podcasts, events and editorials, and has brought together a large community (both on and off-line) of brilliant thinkers and do-ers. Gemma herself consults on biotech, energy, space, health, advanced computing, and is interested in changing the ways of academic research. She has previously worked as a at Siemens, Ogilvy Labs, and has written for The Guardian, Imperica & Ogilvydo, covering the cultural effects of technological and scientific advancements, responsible for connecting startups, government organisations, universities and large corporates.