Sunderland-based innovation support agency, Innovation SuperNetwork, has announced a change in management structure with current CEO, Simon Green appointed as Chair, and Executive Director, Estelle Blanks, taking up the role of CEO from April. Speaking about the change, Simon said: “When I set about building the Innovation SuperNetwork in 2015, my ambition was always to […]
Author: Shelley Armstrong


Invitations to Quote: we’re looking for an online platform and content creators to support VentureFest
VentureFest is the North East’s innovation conference. A longstanding date in the business calendar as a physical event, VentureFest attracts almost 800 delegates. In 2020, the event will be brought to delegates entirely online! As Coronavirus continues to impact our daily lives, we have taken the decision to bring the event to delegates digitally. Now, […]

Collaboration king in challenge to overcome innovation funding gap
A round up of the Accelerating Investment and Innovation Summit. By Estelle Blanks, Executive Director It’s been months in the planning, but this week we delivered the first Accelerating Investment and Innovation Summit, bringing together panelists from across the globe to discuss how to support more investment in innovation. Here in the North East, this […]

SuperNetwork launches Accelerating Investment and Innovation Summit
Summit looks at how the North can forge a path to tackle the funding gap in innovation A new investment summit with the aim of bringing national policy makers together with equity investors, fund managers, big business, and Innovative SMEs will take place this autumn. The Accelerating Investment and Innovation Summit, organised by the Innovation […]

Virtual Accelerator tackles Climate Emergency and the impact of Coronavirus
The Innovation SuperNetwork has launched a new accelerator programme in response to the impact of Coronavirus on climate change. The accelerator seeks to bring solutions to market that will support the region’s commitment to tackling the long-lasting damage of climate change to people, communities and the economy against the backdrop of COVID-19. Informed by results […]

Climate Change after COVID-19: What does it mean for the North East?’
By Simon Green, CEO – Innovation SuperNetwork Climate Change has been called the biggest threat to the human race, with governments globally declaring a climate emergency. With the onset of Coronavirus, concerns have arisen that any gains in carbon emission reduction might increase as the world returns to work. Considered a threat across societies, demographic groups […]

Spiders’ webs and neurons
By Estelle Blanks, Executive Director at Innovation SuperNetwork The ENGIE Innovation Showcase a real-life analogy to innovation ecosystems in action. When I was preparing for my keynote speech for the ENGIE Innovation Showcase, I looked for clever ways to explain Innovation Ecosystems. So, when ENGIE descended on the Newcastle Helix on 19th June as part […]

Talent Acquisition and Retention – Critical for a successful business
By Ben Gilhespy, Operations Director at Engineering & Manufacturing Network. We hear a tremendous amount of positivity in the press around low unemployment figures and in reality, its true. Whilst the North East is currently seeing slightly higher unemployment than the national average we are still at very low levels, and recognise that it’s impossible […]

New incubator aims to hothouse the region’s business ideas
An incubator facility designed to hothouse ideas that offer solutions to some of society’s most pressing challenges has opened in Sunderland. The Innovation Zone has been created by the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) to bring together people who are developing new products, processes and applications that address real world problems such as […]

Invitation to tender: event app, check-in and tracking support
The Innovation SuperNetwork is seeking support in developing two event delivery solutions. Lot one is for the development of an interactive app to support the delivery of VentureFest North East until 2021, and potentially other Innovation SuperNetwork (FinanceCamp North East) and Edge Innovation ltd (VentureFest Tees Valley) events. Lot two seeks provision for on-site delegate […]