Innovation East

Innovation East®️ Ltd., part of the alumni community of The Bradfield Centre, Cambridge (https://www.bradfieldcentre.com), offers consultancy in innovation ecosystems, inward investment, and science & technology. Also expert in accessing and navigating the Cambridge innovation ecosystem, we work with a wide range of commercial and public sector clients in a very flexible way, inside or outside their organisation, to best meet their needs, e.g. our recent project, employed indirectly by Dorset LEP, to refresh all inward investment collateral for ‘Invest in Dorset’.

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Founder Steven Wilson, an FRSA and Fellow of the Institute of Economic Development, has considerable experience over a full career in that field, as well as in inward investment and managing innovation, research & enterprise. 

He has extensive experience of successfully delivering complex project management and stakeholder relations within both private and public sectors at home and abroad. 

Steven has also served for three years as a founding Non-Executive Director of Medtech Accelerator Ltd. and will consider NED roles.

Some examples of significant recommendations are:


I had the pleasure of working with Steven on the creative industries reports for Dorset. His approach to creating the sector reports was simple and produced a great outcome. I hope this builds on the work to date to help put Dorset on the map as a creative hub. We are in a unique position to help nurture incredible talent coming from AUB, BU and Poole college where I studied some time ago. 

A great job in highlighting the talent that is abundant in Dorset.

Jamie Sergeant | Founder & Global CEO at Crowd

It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Steven during his time at Dorset LEP. In my role as the Economic Development Lead for Finance and Creative Digital Tech (BCP Council), it is important that we work in close partnership with the LEP to ensure that we represent the excellence of our region together. Steven quickly understood the unique aspects of the Dorset economy and it was brilliant to see what we sometimes take for granted through a fresh set of eyes. While deadlines were tight for this piece of work, Steven was very focused and completed the work with true professionalism. Steven’s knowledge and experience around business and innovation is superb, which clearly added value to the project.

Claire Main | Economic Development Officer at BCP Council

I have had the pleasure of interacting with Steven over a number of years in my capacity as CEO of Horizon Discovery Group plc and as an angel investor, supporter of social enterprises and champion of our region’s technology cluster. He is a committed and passionate advocate for, and influencer of, the East of England region’s thriving industry and the research community. His expertise spans multiple sectors including Life Sciences, Agri-Tech, Advanced Manufacturing & Materials and ICT. He is also selfless and very supportive of others with his time and always on hand to provide guidance and an encouraging word.

Dr Darrin M Disley OBE | Scientist, Entrepreneur, Angel Investor. CEO at Mogrify, Chairman at Celixir and Footprint Cafes.

Steven is a knowledgeable and highly enthusiastic expert in healthcare and life sciences innovation. He has great experience and a broad knowledge and range of contact in this area. I would recommend him to anyone looking for support in this space.

Piers Ricketts | CEO at Eastern AHSN and Chair at The AHSN Network

I worked with Steven on the MedTech Accelerator (MTA) board and can highly recommend him as NED. Great attention to detail with strong communication makes a great Director.

William David Allan | Medical Technology Entrepreneur

I have had the pleasure of working with Steven since his time with EEDA. Steven is highly creative and thinks outside the box. He has been a great communicator and relationship-builder working with a wide range of Stakeholders at all levels of management. He is highly adaptable and self-motivated with a good track record of getting the job done.

Dr Sally Ann Forsyth | Chief Executive Officer at Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst

I have known Steven primarily through his work as Head of Innovation at the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership. Having served on committees with him, I have come to respect him very much. He is very focussed, rigorous in his approach, and is able to engage others to deliver substantial collaborative projects

Professor Ian White FREng | Vice-Chancellor and President at University of Bath

Our Services

Programme / Project Management, from simple projects to complex multi-partner public/private partnerships – e.g. Dorset LEP Case Study (Oct 2022)

Assistance with identification of potential loan / grant funding sources from private sources e.g., Venture Capital, Corporate Venturing, Business Angels and Crowdfunding and public ones e.g., InnovateUK and UK structural funds

Bid writing and support of tendering processes

Business Analysis and Report Writing

Organisation of visits, workshops, seminars and conferences. Steven has organised and hosted foreign direct investment (FDI) trade missions and other visits including: 

  • Department for International Trade (DIT)’s Latin America & Caribbean Team:
    • Packaging a comprehensive tour for a large DIT international team across two days with research hospital and science park visits. 
    • Arranging bespoke briefings from specialist speakers on BioTech, Digital, AgriTech, FinTech and Advanced Manufacturing
    • Arranged a visit to Anglia Ruskin University and a guided tour of the University of Cambridge’s new West Campus.  
  • City of Xian, PRC – Manufacturers Trade Mission; Co-hosting tour with the Cambridge China Centre and arranging an appropriate manufacturing factory visit and academic visit to the specialist Institute for Manufacturing.  
  • City of San Diego; ‘San Diego in the UK’; Facilitating meetings and co-hosting a large delegation from the SD area, including a Senator.  
  • City of Xiamen, China: Co-hosting VIP Delegation, facilitating a major new collaboration agreement / memorandum of understanding and giving the welcome speech at the official dinner alongside local political leaders 

and many other visits and tours (some confidential) for corporate and civic visitors, across all key industry sectors e.g. Life Sciences, Agri-Tech, Digital and Advanced Manufacturing & Materials.