Innovation Broker (NWCAM2)

Catalyst is seeking an experienced and driven Innovation Broker to join our team and play a key role in fostering collaboration between academia and industry.

As an Innovation Broker you will be responsible for driving tangible commercial outcomes from academic and industrial partnerships within the regional Health & Life Sciences sector. This includes supporting the commercialisation of the projects research and intellectual property portfolio to ensure measurable economic impact.

The NWCAM2 project unites the complementary strengths of academic institutions and industry leaders, deploying cutting-edge technologies such as NWCAM2 to empower Health & Life Sciences companies to create innovative products and processes. Through this role, you will help deliver initiatives that strengthen regional innovation, collaboration, and economic development.

Main Goals:

Facilitate the commercialisation of academic research and industrial collaboration to achieve measurable regional economic impact.

Build and maintain strategic partnerships between academia, industry, and government stakeholders.

Drive innovation in key sectors such as Health & Life Sciences, RegTech and Advanced Manufacturing.

Core Responsibilities:

Develop and execute strategies for connecting academic research with industrial applications.

Work with university stakeholders to support IP commercialisation.

Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with stakeholders across sectors.

Ensure research projects align with commercial needs and market demands.

Lead negotiations on contracts, partnerships, and collaborative R&I agreements.

Support reporting of key performance indicators to funders.

Promote the dissemination of research findings to maximize impact.

Daily Tasks:

Conduct regular market and sector analyses to identify opportunities for commercialisation.

Engage with research staff and industrial partners to plan collaborative projects.

Develop innovation roadmaps for companies.

Lead or support contract negotiations and manage the documentation process.

Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders across academia, industry, and government.

Monitor the progress of collaborative projects and troubleshoot challenges.

Prepare and present reports on project outcomes and metrics.

Coordinate and attend relevant workshops, events, and meetings.

Demonstratable experience in commercialisation of innovation.

Proven ability to build and sustain partnerships with diverse stakeholders.

Experience of complex negotiation e.g. contracts with senior stakeholders

Familiarity with regional innovation economy.

Outstanding networking, analytical, and communication skills.

Flexibility to travel regionally

Skills and Qualifications: Skills:

Strong strategic planning and business development skills.

Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management abilities.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office and data presentation tools.

Desirable Qualifications:

Degree/Post-Graduate Degree in a related field.

An established network within relevant industry sectors.

Experience in international collaboration.