Activation Partners

​What kinds of research ideas are best suited to a Focused Research Organization – and could yours be one of them?

This workshop is for scientists, engineers, founders, and other research innovators with an ambitious idea for addressing a significant scientific or technological bottleneck. It may be especially relevant if you’re exploring a large-scale, engineering-heavy project that doesn’t fit neatly within a university lab, conventional startup, or existing institution.

This event will be held in Glasgow.

​What kinds of research ideas are best suited to a Focused Research Organization – and could yours be one of them?

This workshop is for scientists, engineers, founders, and other research innovators with an ambitious idea for addressing a significant scientific or technological bottleneck. It may be especially relevant if you’re exploring a large-scale, engineering-heavy project that doesn’t fit neatly within a university lab, conventional startup, or existing institution.

This event will be held in Edinburgh.

Meaningful ideas and changes are sparked when serendipitous connection collides with intention. The Thursday Gathering is a free, weekly meet-up that connects people from across Edinburgh’s innovation community to make things happen. Every Thursday, Venture Café bring together innovators of all backgrounds, from founders and investors to students and researchers, to discuss big ideas and connect human to human.

CommonAI on Collaboration, Shared Infrastructure + AI Security

Join CommonAI for an evening exploring why the future of AI must be built together, not alone. Hear from leaders across industry and research on trusted AI, get an inside look at CommonAI's Scaling Inference Lab and High Assurance AI Programmes, meet CommonAI’s members at live demo booths, and connect with the wider AI ecosystem.

From Innovation to Adoption in Greater Manchester

The Challenge AI Labs will bring together corporates, SMEs, communities, academics and students to solve Greater Manchester’s challenges in their four frontier sectors.

The first of these unique Labs focuses on health, in partnership with Health Innovation Manchester and organisations across Greater Manchester. Challenges are shaped openly by the people who understand them best – including those who own the problem and those most affected by it.

​Join for a morning of connection and conversation, hosted by Pillar VC, the UK Government's Incubator for AI (I.AI) and Fractile.

​We’re bringing together women working at the intersection of applied AI and deep-tech to:

• ​Explore building a career as an AI Engineer - we'll hear from those working at the frontier as part of a panel discussion.

• ​Explore the frontiers of AI - with a spotlight on how advanced models are being developed and applied across scientific disciplines, from AI hardware and chip design to ecology. We'll discuss what's new, and what's next.

• ​Share support - quick overviews on how Pillar VC (especially through the Encode: AI for Science Fellowship), Fractile and I.AI can support you.

​What kinds of research ideas are best suited to a Focused Research Organization – and could yours be one of them?

This workshop is for scientists, engineers, founders, and other research innovators with an ambitious idea for addressing a significant scientific or technological bottleneck. It may be especially relevant if you’re exploring a large-scale, engineering-heavy project that doesn’t fit neatly within a university lab, conventional startup, or existing institution.

This event will be held in Oxford.

How do we organize and fund research that is too ambitious, engineering-heavy, or public-good-oriented to fit neatly within a traditional lab or startup?

​This evening program will take a wide-angle look at why new institutional and funding models are emerging, where Focused Research Organizations fit, and what kinds of scientific and technological opportunities they can unlock. We’ll then zoom in on a concrete FRO example—exploring how the idea took shape, why the model was a fit, and what it looks like in practice.

Turning Big Dreams into Real Impact

Join us for an evening of big ambitions and grounded lessons. We're honoured to host the launch for Cancer Card Kids, a new resource for children navigating cancer. We'll also hear from two Scottish founders fresh back from New York on what it really takes to turn a vision into impact.

The next revolution in aviation won't just happen in the skies, it will be built in laboratories, startups and research centres.

The industry is under pressure to decarbonise, improve efficiency and meet growing demand, all the while maintaining the safety, reliability and connectivity we've come to expect. From AI-powered operations and sustainable fuels to advanced materials, autonomous systems and new aircraft designs, a new generation of innovators is reshaping what flight could look like.

​What kinds of research ideas are best suited to a Focused Research Organization – and could yours be one of them?

This workshop is for scientists, engineers, founders, and other research innovators with an ambitious idea for addressing a significant scientific or technological bottleneck. It may be especially relevant if you’re exploring a large-scale, engineering-heavy project that doesn’t fit neatly within a university lab, conventional startup, or existing institution.

This event will be held in Manchester.

Focused Research Organisations & the UK Funding Landscape

Join our ARIA's Activation Partners, Convergent Research and Venture Café Manchester for an evening exploring new ways to fund and organise ambitious science and technology – and where Focused Research Organisations (FROs) could fit within the UK’s evolving innovation landscape.

Whether you already work at the edge of science and innovation or are simply curious about how we might fund and organise ambitious research differently, come along, meet others working across the ecosystem and join the conversation.

More information to follow...

The Future of Neuroscience Innovation

Venture Café are partnering with UCLH to bring together clinicians, researchers, innovators, industry and healthcare leaders to explore emerging technologies and innovations shaping the future of neurological care.

Whether you're a clinician with a problem to solve, a researcher developing the next breakthrough, or an innovator looking to work with the NHS, we'd love to have you join us.

Discover the next wave of innovation at Venture Café Manchester for the regional round of the Tech Osaka Award 2027, hosted in collaboration with Venture Café Tokyo and building on the Sister City partnership between the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the City of Osaka.

Watch ambitious UK and international innovators in Bio/Life Sciences and Healthcare, Green Tech, or Digital. live as they compete for a spot on the global stage. Three winning startups will be selected to travel to Japan (with travel and hotel covered) to represent the region at the Tech Osaka Summit 2027 and pitch for up to ¥2 million in grand prize funding.

Bringing together researchers, innovators, industry leaders and investors from around the globe, this special evening will celebrate the people and partnerships shaping the future of life sciences.

From groundbreaking discoveries to the collaborations bringing science closer to patients, expect inspiring conversations, live showcases and plenty of opportunities to connect with the people driving innovation across the sector.

Unlocking Global Collaboration in Deep Tech and Life Sciences

Running in parallel to London Life Sciences Week Wrap up Reception (and taking place just next door!), join to explore how research, startups and innovation can connect Japan with global ecosystems. Meet pioneering Japanese university-linked startups and hear perspectives from Japan, the UK and Boston on turning research into global impact.