2026 Innovation Hothouse: A Support Programme for Science-Based Founders
Following the success of the last three years, the University of East Anglia and the Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence (EiR), in partnership with Anglia Innovation Partnership (AIP), are proud to announce the 2026 Norwich Research Park Innovation Hothouse competition.
This year represents a strategic evolution. We have moved beyond a traditional pitch competition to offer a bespoke three-month programme of support. We are looking for pioneers based at Norwich Research Park who are working within our core sectors: Agri-tech, Food, Health, Nutrition, and the Environment.
- Do you have a proof-of-concept that could transform the future of food, health, or our planet?
- Are you seeking the high-level strategic advisory and mentorship required to scale a science-led business?
- Do you need to leverage world-class facilities to move your product or service from research to market?
If the answer is YES, we invite you to join our 2026 cohort.
APPLICATION FORM: APPLY HERE
The Programme and Showcase
We are selecting an exclusive “Super Six” cohort of finalists to enter our tailored support programme. This journey is designed to pressure-test technical claims, refine commercial narratives, and bridge the gap between research and commercial application. Our flexible participation model is designed to support both individual student innovators and established research groups.
The programme culminates on Monday 16th November at the John Innes Conference Centre as part of Anglia Innovation Partnership’s series of Norwich Research Park showcase events. This event brings together a diverse community of academics, investors and companies. During the ‘Enterprise Showcase event finalists will deliver a 5-minute pitch followed by a rigorous Q&A session with our expert judging panel of specialist investors and corporate partners. You must be available all day on Monday 16th November.
Prizes and Special Distinction
Our 2026 prize structure provides the non-dilutive capital and operational momentum required to scale science-based ventures:
The Winner: A £10,000 package to accelerate product development and facility access, including cash, £5,000 in expert legal support from Mills & Reeve to support the launch and growth of your start up plus more prizes to be announced.
The Runner-Up: A £500 cash prize accompanied by a tailored commercialisation roadmap.
Special Distinction Awards: Two awards recognising the pillars of a successful science start-up:
The Scientific Innovation Award: For the most robust research breakthrough with the clear potential to bridge the gap into industry. A £400 cash prize
The Market Readiness Award: For the venture demonstrating the most compelling path to commercial application and the clearest strategy for regional or global market entry. A £400 cash prize
The Norwich Research Park “Golden Ticket”: In addition to their prizes, all award winners will receive a one-year Virtual Tenancy at the Centrum. This provides a prestigious business address at the Norwich Research Park. Subject to the establishment of a company and standard HMRC checks. Existing virtual tenants will receive a marketing support package instead, including advice, promotional opportunities and more.
Finalist Benefits
All six finalists will benefit from:
Strategic Advisory & Mentorship: 1-to-1 support from the Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence to map out the translational pathway for your innovation.
Collaborative Growth Pathways: Guidance on navigating high-impact partnerships, such as Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), to bridge the gap between research and commercial application.
Impact & REF Alignment: Support in documenting the commercial and societal milestones necessary for future research impact case studies.
Ecosystem Access: Direct introductions to research leads and technical experts within the Norwich Research Park’s world-class facilities.
Regional Recognition: Automatic nomination for the prestigious #21towatch All finalists will be nominated/listed on #21towatch and the three winners will automatically be shortlisted for #21towatch
Eligibility and Selection
We are looking for the most promising science-led innovators and researchers based at Norwich Research Park. We are looking for the most promising talent on campus to anchor their growth in our world-class scientific ecosystem.
Who Should Apply:
The Innovators: Undergraduate and PGR students, Early Career Researchers, Principal Investigators (PIs), academic spin-outs, or early-stage start-ups (<5 years old, <9 employees).
The Stage: You must be at the proof-of-concept stage and have not yet received equity investment. Incorporation is not a requirement to apply; we support people and projects, not just paperwork.
The Sectors: Your innovation must align with one of our five core pillars: Agri-tech, Food, Health, Nutrition, or the Environment.
How We Select the “Super Six”
The selection of our finalist cohort is based on two primary factors:
Technical & Strategic Potential: The robustness of your science and the clarity of your path to market.
Operational Synergy: We prioritise ventures that can articulate a clear plan to utilise the unique research expertise or world-class facilities available at the Norwich Research Park. We aren’t just looking for residents; we are looking for collaborators. Whether you are already on campus or are a regional founder looking for a specialised “home” for your science, we want to see how our ecosystem acts as your unfair advantage.
Identify Your Synergy: To help you map your venture to the Park’s assets, we encourage you to explore what Norwich Research Park has to offer. Identifying a specific lab, genomics pipeline, or research group you intend to collaborate with will significantly strengthen your application.
If you have submitted an application in the past three years you can apply again. Please note that this year applications will also be accepted from previous years’ finalists, with the exception of any of our previous winners from 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Entries can be either individuals or teams, but only a maximum number of two people from each entry can pitch on the day!
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 26 June 2026 at 5 pm
Find out more about last year’s competition and winners
Sponsored and Supported by:
For any queries, please email alexia.mlynarska@nrp.dev.assemblystudios.co.uk
