Building a World-Leading Climate Tech Ecosystem in Oxfordshire
How can regions build climate tech ecosystems that drive global impact? Hannah Scott shares Oxfordshire Greentech's playbook for connecting innovators with capital and scaling solutions.
In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager speaks with Hannah Scott, CEO of Oxfordshire Greentech and Co-Founder of the Climate Tech SuperCluster, about building networks that connect climate innovators with the funding, expertise and corporate partnerships they need to scale. They explore how Oxfordshire has quietly become one of the UK’s most important regions for climate innovation, with emerging specialisms in energy tech at Harwell, fusion at Culham and sustainable chemistry at Begbroke.
With the UK climate tech sector now valued at $75.3 billion but investment falling 67% since 2023, Hannah explains how business networks like Oxfordshire Greentech help startups leapfrog challenges, access visibility and navigate the valley of death. From the recent launch of a green ammonia demonstrator at Harwell to the formation of a cross-European climate tech supercluster spanning Amsterdam, London and Paris, this conversation reveals how local action can drive global climate impact.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking for support, an investor seeking deal flow, or a corporate wanting to engage with cutting-edge climate solutions, this episode offers a practical roadmap for plugging into one of the UK’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems.
Oxfordshire Greentech’s Access to Finance event
For anyone wanting to get involved in-person with Oxfordshire Greentech and the work they do there is a perfect opportunity - the Access to Finance event they are hosting on the 12th March at Oxford North - a previous sponsor of Oxford+.
An update from Abu Dhabi
Many of you have reached out personally to check that we are ok out here in Abu Dhabi. Thank you. We are fortunate to be benefitting from great inward investment on Defence by the UAE government. It brings into sharp relief the points made from last week’s episode with Ali Hawks on defence spending, education, the importance of investment and high-functioning procurement processes. It is easy to think these things are localised but increasingly spill-over seems inevitable. For anyone that missed that episode it is below again.
With thanks for the ongoing support of our listeners and the ecosystem,
Susannah and the Oxford+ Team