Manager (Deeptech Ecosystem Lead)

We have an exciting opportunity to be part of a world-class team supporting UK companies to accelerate their growth through innovation, investment and partnership delivering economic impact into the UK economy.

SETsquared has recently partnered on an exciting new accelerator working alongside the Ministry of Defence's Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) and our partners to strengthen the UK’s position within NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) initiative. 

Working alongside consortium partners, the programme will support companies working on pressing defence and security challenges, creating a new generation of innovative suppliers while strengthening the defence industrial base. The programme will be delivering dual use innovations, expert technical support, access to investment opportunities, connections with the pan-NATO ecosystems and tailored business acceleration support at the programmes White City campus in London.

We are looking for a pro-active, hands-on Manager to act as the programmes Deeptech Ecosystem Lead, facilitating early engagement with the UK deeptech ecosystem, providing deep tech commercialisation support and outreach to startups, scaleups and spinouts including from academic and research institutions. 

About us

The SETsquared Partnership is a world leading business incubator and innovation partnership comprising six research-intensive universities – Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Southampton, and Surrey. We provided a range of highly acclaimed support programmes to help turn ideas into thriving businesses. 

In this role, you will be working as part of a dynamic and friendly team along with a wider team at each of the individual Universities within the SETsquared Partnership.

About you

A pro-active and hands-on individual with motivation and genuine enthusiasm for engaging and facilitating access across the UK’s deep tech ecosystem, alongside a proven track record of building and delivering outreach, training and support programmes. 

This is a challenging and exciting opportunity for someone who is already well connected in the UK’s deep tech ecosystem. You will be responsible for designing and delivering content tailored to the needs of the defence and security sector, which could include:

• outreach programmes targeting spinouts from academic and research institutions
• design and execute hackathons with the research community to inspire new ideas in key technology areas
• coordinate thought leadership events
• design future talent programmes to engage those starting their tech careers and providing a platform for talent discovery
• forge connections with other NATO initiatives across the UK and the Alliance
• and design and deliver other content tailored to the needs of the defence and security sector

Further information

This is a full time, fixed-term role until November 2026, with a possible extension for a further 3 years subject to funding.

You will be required to undertake duties outside of standard University hours, including evenings or weekends where the business need arises, and some travelling to London to the programme's White City innovation hub is likely to be required.

A Security Clearance check is required for this position.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact

Serena Giaminardi, Head of Programmes & Investment at: 
serena.giaminardi@setsquared.co.uk.

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