Pioneer Group and Science Creates Announce Strategic Collaboration to Accelerate Science and Tech Ventures
Pioneer Group and Science Creates today announce a new partnership that will support the next generation of science and technology ventures across the UK and Ireland.
The collaboration brings together two mission-led organisations committed to helping founders translate scientific discovery into commercial solutions to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in human and planetary health.
Together, Pioneer and Science Creates have supported over 350 innovation-driven startups and spinouts with specialist lab and office space, investment, training programmes and access to expertise and mentoring tailored to technical founders working in pioneering areas such as biotech, quantum technology, AI, advanced materials and more. By joining forces, the organisations aim to work together to form a coordinated, cohesive and high-quality national offer for high-potential science ventures.
Both organisations are delivery partners of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) programmes, with a shared commitment to supporting the UK's science and innovation strategy. This collaboration strengthens the national support offered by aligning complementary programmes, infrastructure and expertise — ensuring Government funding delivers the greatest possible impact.
“This partnership allows us to build on the shared values and strengths of both ecosystems,” said Dr Harry Destecroix MBE, Founder of Science Creates. “Science Creates was built to help scientists turn ideas into impact. Working with Pioneer allows us to scale that vision across the UK, supporting more founders to bring world-changing innovations to life.”
The collaboration will initially focus on three key areas:
- Programme integration. Where there is clear value, both organisations will support each other’s existing and future accelerator and venture-building programmes.
- Infrastructure signposting. With footprint in key regional hubs, the organisations will co-promote lab space, facilities, support and ecosystems — helping startups find the right environment to get started, grow and scale.
- Joint ecosystem activity. The partnership will enable deal-flow sharing, joint event delivery and broader founder access to expertise, networks and resources drawn from both ecosystems.
“By joining forces, we’re strengthening the support available to founders tackling big, complex challenges,” said Ayokunmi Ajetunmobi PhD, Head of Ventures at Pioneer. “This partnership isn’t just about today — it’s about laying the foundations for a deeper, long-term relationship. By combining the strengths of our two ecosystems, we can create more joined-up pathways for founders — from early-stage programmes through to the specialist environments and networks they need as they grow.”
Xterna — Demonstrating the strength of shared support
Xterna is a London-based startup using alternative nucleic acids for targeted drug delivery — and its trajectory illustrates the kind of founder journey the new partnership is designed to enable, now with greater coordination and scale.
The company was co-founded in 2024 following Science Creates’ inaugural Engineering Biology Accelerator by CEO Jessica Corry, a cancer biologist, and CSO Chris Wan, a synthetic biologist, both previously training academically at the University of Cambridge and Francis Crick Institute.
Post-graduation, Xterna went on to unlock follow-on feasibility funding from Innovate UK and, in 2025, the company moved to Pioneer’s new incubator labs in Victoria House — a collaborative space fully-fitted with high-spec lab equipment and shared instrumentation in central London.
Xterna’s move from Science Creates’ accelerator to Pioneer’s incubator space is a clear example of how the two ecosystems are already working in concert to support Deep Tech ventures from concept to commercialisation.
In June 2025, the company received the Pioneer x Daiichi Sankyo Golden Ticket, awarded to standout early-stage biotech companies with strong translational potential and impact — including a year of free incubator space.
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Expressions of interest to join Science Creates’ Engineering Biology Accelerator and Pioneer’s Managing Chronic Conditions programme are now open.
Science Creates’ expression of interest closes 31 July. Read more and apply https://www.sciencecreates.co.uk/programme/engbio3
Pioneer’s Biomedical Catalyst: Managing Chronic Conditions Pre-Accelerator Programme is set to launch in late Summer 2025. Register your interest here: https://thepioneergroup.com/accelerator-programme/
