IndAc Programme

Day one focuses on industry-academia collaboration and commercialisation with ample opportunities to network with commercially minded academics, industry open to collaboration and organisations that can support.

Day two focuses on employability and skills development and run similar to a recruitment fair providing the chance for talented and proactive undergraduate and postgraduate students and staff to network with life sciences employers.

Return to Conference Page

Day 1 – Tuesday 28th October 2025

Target Audience:

  • Researchers exploring or initiating industry collaboration or commercialisation

  • PhD students, researchers, technicians, and professional staff within universities

  • Industry partners seeking collaboration with academic researchers

}

9:00am – 9:45am

Level 2 Foyer

Registration + Arrival Refreshments

}

09:45am – 10:00am

Auditorium B & C

Welcome Address

Dr Ally Hughes, SULSA Executive Director

}

10:00am – 10:30am

Auditorium B & C

Introduction to Commercialisation

Kirsten McAulay, University of Dundee

}

10:30am – 11:00am

Auditorium B & C

Introduction to Collaboration

Professor Joyce Tait, University of Edinburgh

}

11:00am – 11:30am

Level 2 Foyer

Coffee Break

}

11:30am – 12:30pm

Auditorium B & C

Panel Session: What Help is Available Along the Way?

Chair: Dr Orla Kelly (UWS)
Panel Members: Dr Lissa Herron (Converge), Dr Andrea McColl (Highlands and Islands Enterprise), Evelyn McDonald (Scottish Edge) and Shelley Breckenridge (Interface)

}

12:30pm – 1:45pm

Level 2 Foyer

Lunch | Networking | Exhibitors

 

}

1:45pm – 2:45pm

Various

First Breakout Session 

View Breakout Sessions
  1. Food & Drink Biotechnology: Collaborative Research & Development
    Chair    : Annelie du Plessis (IBioIC)
    Speakers: Daniel Carcajona (SAMS Enterprise) and Prof Stephen Euston (HWU)
  2. Tackling Disease: Collaborative Research & Development
    Chair: Dr Abigail Lyons (Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre)
    Speakers: Dr Zahra Rattray (Strathclyde) & Dr Harriet Auty (Glasgow)
  3. Health Technology: Commercialisation
    Chair: Paul Winstanley (CENSIS)
    Speakers: Dr Christopher Walsh (Glasgow) & Dr András Kufcsák (OptoLoc)
  4. Sustainability: Commercialisation
    Chair: Dr Cait Murray-Green (Strategic Scientific Consulting)
    Speakers: Phillip Lockwood-Holmes (Rethink Carbon) & Dr Mark Dorris (Mercel Ltd)

}

2:45pm – 3:00pm

Comfort Break

 

}

3:00pm – 4:00pm

Various

Second Breakout Session 

View Breakout Sessions
  1. Food & Drink Biotechnology: Commercialisation
    Chair: Annelie du Plessis (IBioIC)
    Speakers: Dr Anton Puzorjov (Quas Drink) & Dr Maria Karvela (DnaNudge)
  2. Tackling Disease: Commercialisation
    Chair: Dr Abigail Lyons (Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre)
    Speakers: Adam Inche (Lentitek) and Richard Campbell (Lateral DX)
  3. Health Technology: Collaborative Research & Development
    Chair: Paul Winstanley (CENSIS)
    Speakers: Dr Andrew Blaiklie (St Andrews) & Adam Turner (The Data Lab)
  4. Sustainability: Collaborative Research & Develoment
    Chair: Dr Cait Murray-Green (Strategic Scientific Consulting)
    Speakers: Dr Joanne Sadler (Edinburgh) & Dr Szabolcs Pap (UHI)
}

4:00pm

Day One Close

}

4:30pm onwards

The Terrace, Strathclyde Student Union, 51 Richmond Street

SULSA IndAc x SEC Mixer

Join us to celebrate the end of day one at our complimentary social mixer hosted with the Science Entrepreneur Club!

Day 2 – Wednesday 29th October 2025

Target Audience:

  • Undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD students, as well as postgraduate researchers seeking career opportunities and skills development

  • Industry and organisations interested in recruiting life science talent

}

9:00am - 9:30am

Level 2 Foyer

Registration + Arrival Refreshments

}

09:30 - 09:45am

Auditorium B & C

Welcome Address

Dr Ally Hughes, SULSA Executive Director

}

09:45am - 10:15am

Auditorium B & C

Powering Skills Growth in Life Sciences

Sarah Hunt, Skills Development Scotland

}

10:15am - 11:15am

Auditorium B & C

Industry Opportunities

Hear from some of our industry exhibitors.

}

11:15am - 11:45am

Level 2 Foyer

Coffee Break | Exhibition Stands | Networking

Breaks will include the opportunity to have a professional headshot taken by a photographer, courtesy of SULSA, for use in CVs and online profiles.

}

11:45am - 1:00pm

Auditorium B & C

Panel Session: Future Trends in Life Sciences Industries

Chair: Mark Cook
Panel Members: Alison Clayton (Symbiosis Pharma), Ramin Ebrahimnejad (James Hutton Institute), Dr Stuart Hannah (Microplate DX) and Karen Tait (IQVIA)

}

1:00pm - 2:15pm

Room TBC

Lunch | Exhibition Stands | Networking

Breaks will include the opportunity to have professional headshots taken by a photographer, courtesy of SULSA, for use in CVs and online profiles.

}

2:15pm - 3:15pm

Various

First Workshop Session 

View Workshop Options

Communication & Media Coaching
Euan Paterson, Paterson Communications

Career Imaging – Thinking Strategically about your Career
Dr Robin Henderson, MyConsultants

Social Media Bootcamp: Present Yourself Online
Dr Joanna Young, The Scientific Editing Company

Introduction to Research-Policy Engagement
Dr Dave Blackbell, The Scottish Policy & Research Exchange

 

}

3:15pm - 3:30pm

Comfort Break

}

3:30pm - 4:30pm

Various

Second Workshop Session 

View Workshop Options

Communication & Media Coaching
Euan Paterson, Paterson Communications

Career Imaging – Thinking Strategically about your Career
Dr Robin Henderson, MyConsultants

Social Media Bootcamp: Present Yourself Online
Dr Joanna Young, The Scientific Editing Company

Introduction to Research-Policy Engagement
Dr Dave Blackbell, The Scottish Policy & Research Exchange

Our SPONSORS

Register Now

This conference is open to academic students and staff as well as external partners across the public and private sectors.

Register Now

Contact Us