Introduction to Bio-Spark
Early career research scientists often wish to consider options outside the academic world, but have limited experience in the paths they wish to take. Many wish to go into Industry but are unsure which type of company would suit them, while others wish to become entrepreneurs, but the process of entrepreneurship is ill-defined and uncertain.
Bio-spark is an educational entrepreneurship programme that provides support for early-stage scientists, including but not limited to those engaged in a PhD or Postdoc. It provides opportunities to sample different company environments, and mentorship that may lead to the formation of companies. Bio-spark fellows are chosen in recognition of their entrepreneurial potential. They are exceptional individuals who think beyond the normal boundaries, have an appetite for innovation, and are in search of the intellectual spark that will make a difference to human health.
The programme runs from November to June each year – view the application section below!
There are three different types of Bio-spark fellows. Explore the different fellowship types and the networking opportunities using the boxes below.
1. Exploring fellows
This type of fellow is interested in exploring the entrepreneurial ecosystem within Pharma, Biotech and Venture Investment. They will take part in all the visits, presentations and networking that every type of fellow will be involved in. Exploring fellows may be at an earlier stage in their career and may wish to return and become challenge-solving or company-seeding fellows in future years. Networking events will be organised regularly throughout the period of the Bio-spark programme and will involve the following events. In addition to participants from the University of Cambridge, within Exploring fellowships, Cancer Research Horizons supports the participation of researchers from institutions other than the University of Cambridge; this is via a limited subsistence bursary, to support the cost of travel to Cambridge to enable participation in in-person events.
2. Challenge-solving fellows
These fellows will do virtual internships and participate in a challenge posed by one of our Pharma, Biotech, or Venture Investor partners. These challenges will be performed in groups of 2 or 3. Challenges will last for 6 months, should take 2-3 hours a week, and should be done outside working hours. Mentors from the company partners will guide the process of challenge-solving. The principle behind these challenges is to give the fellows the opportunity to interact with our partner and experience the relevant environment of the company. Challenge-solving fellows can participate in networking events (see below).
3. Company-seeding fellows
Individuals or groups with ideas for the formation of a company will be supported through educational lectures on research commercialisation, mentorship sessions and workshops. The idea has to be relatively developed and could come from research at the University or from independent sources. If the idea involves more than one person, all contributors should apply to the Bio-spark programme. Company-seeding fellows will own the rights to any ideas developed during the mentorship process (IP Ordinance 14 and 18 apply). Company- seeding fellows will receive mentorship for 6 months. At the end of the programme, there will be a pitch event where fellows may pitch their ideas to investors. Company-seeding fellows can participate in networking events (see below).
Networking Events (open to all fellows)
- Partner company presentations
- Meet venture capital/ biotech/entrepreneur/company mentors
- Company Ideas Clinic (open to the wider Cambridge community)
- Biotech matchmaking (open to the wider Cambridge community)
- Entrepreneurship in Cambridge (open to the wider Cambridge community)
- Visits to company partners
- Pitch workshops
- Investor Pitch event (open to the wider Cambridge community)
- Virtual education sessions as part of the Translating Research into Biotechs Programme (open to all fellows)
- Principles for Founding a Biotech
- Taking your Research to the Market
- Financing and Structuring Biotechs
- Considerations of Where You Fit into a Biotech
Applications are now closed
Important Dates:
The programme will run from November 2025 to June 2026.
July 2025 – Applications open for Exploring and Company-Seeding Fellowships
15 September 2025 – Applications open for Challenge-Solving Fellowships
13 October 2025 – Deadline for Company-Seeding and Challenge-Solving Fellowships
25 November 2025 – Deadline for Exploring Fellowships
27 November 2025 – Launch Date
Contact Details:
If you have any questions about the application process, or would like to sign-up to stay informed of upcoming news and events, please email contact@gravity.cam.ac.uk.
