Catalyst business accelerator programme now open for new applicants

We are pleased to announce that applications to join the University Southampton Science Park’s prestigious Catalyst business accelerator programme have now opened. 

We joined the Catalyst partnership earlier this year, along with the National Oceanographic Centre and the University of Southampton’s School of Healthcare Enterprise and Innovation, to deliver workshops and mentoring. 

Catalyst is a highly regarded business support programme. It has benefited nearly 100 companies which have, between them, created around 260 jobs and raised investment of more than £66 million. Held in-person on two days per week for five months, Catalyst offers a fully-funded programme of mentoring and workshop learning with high-level one-to-one sessions with world-class business mentors, commercially-focussed weekly peer group workshops and a prestigious Southampton Science Park business home throughout the programme. 

Health Innovation Wessex will be providing a parallel stream for health and medtech businesses, building on the core Catalyst content with additional taught sessions, workshops and mentoring, focussing on product development and market access in the health sector.

Frank Ratcliff, Director of Industry and Innovation at Health Innovation Wessex, said: “We have a long and fruitful relationship with Southampton Science Park and the University of Southampton, working together to support high-potential companies. Formalising our involvement with the Catalyst partnership has been a logical extension of that, generating the ability to provide greater support for even more start-ups and furthering our ambitions to accelerate the adoption of viable solutions.”

Health Innovation Wessex supports the development and adoption of innovation in the health and social care sector, from offices at the science park, to improve patient outcomes, drive value for the NHS and support economic growth in the health and life sciences sector.

Dr Robin Chave, Southampton Science Park CEO, said: “I am delighted that the Science Park will be working more closely with these three very successful and hugely inspiring institutions on our Catalyst business accelerator moving forward. These collaborations mean that we can work with twice the number of early-stage businesses each year, and they will benefit from deeper learning experiences and faster problem solving through the cross fertilisation of the partners’ ideas and experiences. 

“There is a rich seam of innovation flowing throughout the south central area, concepts that in many cases, aren’t developed to their fullest economic potential. With our new Catalyst partners, we hope to change that by giving more companies more opportunities to commercialise their ideas and research. Ultimately, this will grow our region’s reputation for innovation excellence and boost its economy by encouraging inward investment and retaining talented, visionary people here.”

Catalyst commences in March and September each year with a maximum of ten
companies granted places for each. 

Applications for the programme commencing March 2025 are now welcome via a simple
online application form.  

Please ensure you read the application guidelines, and you are able to commit to the course
programme before applying.