Pitching for a Place

In February, Southampton Science Park welcomed the founders of several early-stage companies keen to secure a place on the Catalyst business acceleration programme this spring.

Catalyst is a highly regarded, prestigious business support programme which has benefited nearly 100 companies to date. Between them, these companies have created around 260 jobs and raised investment of more than £66 million, the majority of which continue to trade in the Central South region. Southampton Science Park is grateful to receive funding from the UK Government via Test Valley Borough Council through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to help run this programme.

The judging panel, including representatives from Catalyst partners, Health Innovation Wessex, the National Oceanography Centre and the University of Southampton’s School of Healthcare Enterprise and Innovation were pleased with the exceptional standard of entries. 

Lucinda Lamont, Business Development Director for Southampton Science Park, said, “We were extremely impressed by the quality of the businesses that applied for our spring Catalyst cohort, and it was encouraging to see a range of sectors represented too, with applicants demonstrating science and technology ripe for commercialisation from medtech to agritech.”

The successful companies will be revealed in March when their intensive programme commences. 

Expressions of interest in the Catalyst programme are always welcome via a simple online application process.