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Innovation Support Organisation Network (ISONet) 

ISONet is a collaborative initiative from the University of Salford and Lancaster University. The network’s aims are to strengthen the effectiveness and future direction of the UK’s innovation support ecosystem. 

About ISONet 

Innovation Support Organisations (ISOs) play a vital role in the UK’s innovation landscape. ISOs are incubators, accelerators, catalysts, innovation hubs and university-based centres. They also include specialist organisations that help businesses develop, test and scale new ideas. ISOs span all sectors and technologies and operate at local, regional, national or international levels. Their funding sources vary from public bodies, private investors to universities. 

ISONet will bring together leaders of these organisations to learn from one another and reflect on shared challenges. The network will explore better ways of designing, funding and operating innovation support. As many ISOs are publicly funded, ISONet will provide independent insight to funders such as UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), supporting evidence-based commissioning, design and evaluation. 

Image of the cover of the 'Shaping and Making Markets, Not Just Technologies' project booklet.

The network builds on a project funded by the UKRI Innovation & Research Caucus and delivered by researchers from the University of Salford Business School and Lancaster University Management School. The study explored how ISOs help create and shape markets for the innovations they support, laying the foundations for future collaboration, learning and impact. 

If you want to read more about the project and its findings, contact us by email to request a digital or hard copy of the booklet.

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Find out more about ISONet, and keep up-to-date with the latest news and events.

ISONet: Our ambitions

Convening ISO leaders 

ISONet aims to bring ISO leaders together through roundtable discussions that explore shared challenges, exchange insights and reflect on operational practice. These events are intended to create trusted spaces for open discussion and peer learning. As the network develops, we hope to host themed workshops with invited speakers, policy‑focused conversations and an annual ISONet conference. 

Building global insight

ISONet plans to examine emerging international developments in innovation support. By learning from the approaches of leading ISOs around the world, the network seeks to strengthen the UK innovation system and help organisations adapt to new trends and opportunities as they arise. 

Researching ISO activities and impact

The recent UKRI‑funded project explored how ISOs help create the conditions for new markets to form around the innovations they support, laying the groundwork for future lines of inquiry. Researchers involved with ISONet aim to continue building this evidence base through studies that investigate the roles, activities and effectiveness of different forms of Innovation Support Organisations. 

Looking ahead

ISONet looks to the future by nurturing stronger collaboration between Innovation Support Organisations, providing funders with robust and independent insights, and supporting more effective, inclusive and sustainable innovation environments. Over time, we aim for ISONet to grow as a community of practice, bringing together ISO leaders, researchers and policymakers who share a commitment to strengthening innovation support across the UK. 

Want to find out more?

If you’re interested in joining future events, collaborating on research or learning more about ISONet, please contact the ISONet team:

Funded by the Innovation & Research Caucus