Cambridge University hosts UK ambassador to strengthen US tech ties and showcase innovation districts
University highlights quantum, AI, and life sciences research in bid to support UK-US technology collaboration.
Photo credit: Domininkas Photography
The University of Cambridge hosted UK Ambassador to the United States Lord Mandelson last week to showcase its research infrastructure and commercial partnerships, as part of wider efforts to support the UK-US tech partnership announced in the recent bilateral trade agreement.
Lord Mandelson’s visit, organized by Founders at the University of Cambridge and Innovate Cambridge, included meetings with senior researchers and spinout companies, as well as a tour of the new Ray Dolby Centre.
Cambridge, home to what it describes as the world’s most intensive science and tech cluster, has been positioning itself as a hub for deep tech investment and translational research in AI, quantum technologies, and climate science.
Tour of Ray Dolby Centre and Cavendish Laboratory
The ambassador visited the Ray Dolby Centre, future home of the Cavendish Laboratory, where he was hosted by Professor Mete Atatüre, Head of the Department of Physics. The visit focused on Cambridge’s leadership in quantum research and applications being developed within the lab.
Following the tour, Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice hosted a roundtable lunch at Cambridge Enterprise, the university’s tech transfer and commercialization arm. The session included representatives from high-growth companies in the quantum, AI, and life sciences sectors, with discussions centered on opportunities to deepen UK-US research and industrial links.
Cambridge seeks to build momentum around new innovation zones
The university presented its ongoing work to develop the West Cambridge Innovation District and the planned National Innovation Hub. Both projects aim to consolidate the region’s position as a European center for applied research in frontier technologies.
Recent analysis from Dealroom for Founders at the University of Cambridge reported that the area receives more deep tech venture capital per capita than any other region globally, with Cambridge’s tech ecosystem valued at $222 billion - 18 percent of the UK’s total and second only to London.
Professor Deborah Prentice says: “It was a pleasure to join the Ambassador and colleagues to showcase the full depth and breadth of Cambridge’s research and business strengths—from personalised vaccines and genomics to qubits and semiconductors. Cambridge has unique capabilities to help drive the UK-US tech partnership forward, and we’re excited to build on this momentum.”
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