Tech Headlines of the Week
The episode kicks off with a roundup of the latest news from Cambridge's thriving tech scene:
AnthroTek goes Hollywood – The medtech startup has been selected to work on a major blockbuster, bringing its hyper-realistic silicone innovations from surgical training into cinema.
Cambridge Science Centre’s Superheroes Event – Honouring scientists from AstraZeneca, Illumina, and other local companies for their contributions to interactive science education.
Quantinuum’s Quantum Leap – A game-changing generative quantum AI framework, GenQAI, is set to revolutionise financial modeling, logistics, and medical research.
Filtronic & SpaceX – Cambridge-based Filtronic has secured a $20.9 million contract to supply RF power amplifiers for the Starlink satellite system.
Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation Awards – Three Cambridge-based women entrepreneurs—Monica Saavedra (Lambda Energy), Emma Yates (Proteotype Diagnostics), and Binhui Shao (Easy Digital)—were recognised for their groundbreaking work.
Deep Dive: Innovation at Norwich Research Park
The second half of the episode features an insightful discussion with Roz Bird (Anglia Innovation Partnership) and Dr. Nicola Hancock (University of East Anglia) on the cutting-edge research, entrepreneurship, and ecosystem at Norwich Research Park.
“We have more microbiologists here than anywhere else in the UK—possibly the world. That’s a testament to the depth of expertise we’re building.” – Roz Bird
Key takeaways:
A Hub for Science & Startups – The park hosts top-tier institutions, including the John Innes Centre (plant science), Quadram Institute (nutrition & gut health), and the Earlham Institute (genomics), alongside the University of East Anglia and a thriving community of startups.
From Lab to Market – Norwich Research Park fosters commercialisation through the ICURE programme, which helps scientists explore market applications for their research, and a £200,000 pre-seed fund supporting early-stage spinouts.
Bridging the Talent Gap – The university and research institutes play a critical role in supplying skilled graduates and researchers to the growing tech and biotech companies in the region.
A Future Accelerator – Plans are underway to launch a venture builder programme in 2025, offering targeted support to high-growth startups in biotech, agritech, and medtech.
Startup Spotlight: Game-Changing Innovators
Two standout startups making waves at Norwich Research Park shared their journeys on the podcast:
Colorifix – Revolutionising Sustainable Fashion
“17-20% of freshwater pollution comes from textile dyeing. We’re removing toxic chemicals by using biology.” – Sophie Vaud, Head of Microbial Engineering
Colorifix is pioneering an eco-friendly approach to dyeing textiles using biological processes. Originally founded in Cambridge, the company relocated to Norwich to benefit from the research park’s expertise and talent pool. Now operating at commercial scale, Colorifix is drastically reducing water consumption and eliminating toxic dyeing processes.
Alora – Ocean-Based Agriculture to Fight World Hunger
“Why can’t crops thrive in high-salt environments like mangroves? We’ve found a way to grow rice on the ocean.” – Rory Hornby, Co-founder
Alora is redefining sustainable agriculture by developing salt-tolerant crops that can be grown on ocean surfaces. After stints in San Francisco, Toronto, and Singapore, the startup chose Norwich as its base due to its access to top research institutions and affordable scaling opportunities.
Why You Should Listen
This episode is a must-listen for tech founders, investors, and anyone interested in deep tech and biotech innovation. The stories of Norwich Research Park, Colorifix, and Alora highlight how the UK is leading the way in sustainable, high-impact technologies.
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