Backing Bold Science | A conversation the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) | Supported by Nucleate
Join Nucleate for an in-depth discussion on Backing Bold Science, featuring leaders from the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) and The Engine.
This event is part of a global roadshow as ARIA scouts and sources candidates for its third cohort of Programme Directors, with events running across the UK, Europe, and North America (building on last year's stops in Boston, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Geneva) ahead of applications opening in August 2026 for a May 2027 start.
Agenda:
17:00 - 17:30 - Arrival and Registration
17:30 - 18:00 - Welcome remarks from Nucleate and ARIA
18:00 - 18:45 - Backing Bold Science
19:00 - 21:00 - Networking Reception
About ARIA
ARIA was set up to catalyse technological breakthroughs that will dramatically improve the lives of everyone in society; that's why we back scientists and engineers to pursue research that's too ambitious, counterintuitive or underexplored to be supported elsewhere.
But breakthroughs alone aren't enough. They require the right conditions to be translated into world-changing capabilities and conditions that ensure discovery doesn't get stuck in a lab but makes widespread social and economic impact.
When exploring how we could make these conditions a core part of our model, we worked from three core hypotheses:
Activating talent: The UK possesses a deep well of latent entrepreneurial talent which can be activated to create global change through R&D, provided the right platforms.
Building ecosystems: The primary bottleneck to societally impactful breakthroughs in the UK isn't a lack of incredible science, but the relative lack of an ecosystem that seamlessly bridges the gap between a 'high-risk idea' and a 'scalable organisation'.
Lasting impact: ARIA's funding could catalyse new types of translational support for frontier R&D in the UK and these could build enough self-sustaining momentum to outlive ARIA's direct support.
The Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) is an R&D funding agency created to unlock technological breakthroughs that benefit everyone. This seminar will provide an inside look at ARIA and its Opportunity Spaces, and at what it's really like to be a Programme Director —as we delve into the unparalleled value of investing in frontier research and discovery to drive groundbreaking innovation.
ARIA was established in January 2023 to create transformational impact through science and technology. With £800 million in initial funding and unmatched autonomy and flexibility, ARIA is tackling global challenges with R&D. Its two cohorts to date have brought together sixteen Programme Directors — scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs from academia, industry, startups and venture creation across the UK, Europe and the US — each entrusted with a ~£50 million budget to design and lead an ambitious, multi-year, high-risk, high-reward R&D programme in their chosen field. ARIA's third cohort search opens this August, and this event is your chance to meet the team, ask questions directly, and find out if this could be you.
About Nucleate
Nucleate is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of biotech leaders. With chapters spanning 41 geographic regions and participation from over 280 academic institutions, Nucleate sparks new intellectual communities and embeds emerging talent within a global biotech community. Through open-access educational programming, Nucleate helps democratize biotech innovation — removing barriers and helping founders concentrate on building transformational technologies. Visit www.nucleate.org for more information, and visit https://nucleate.org/privacy-policy/ to read our privacy policy.
We want to thank our HQ supporters for championing our open-access mission and empowering the next generation of biotech entrepreneurs!
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