Join Us for Science: Polish Perspectives (SPP) Cambridge 2025: From Discovery to Disruption: Polish Innovation in the UK

SPP Cambridge 2025 will focus on showcasing how Polish science, business, and innovation can develop and grow in the UK. By approaching the topic from the perspective of both research and entrepreneurship, we aim to provide you with lively discussions, interesting networking opportunities, and a fresh outlook on Polish innovation in the UK.

At this year's SPP Cambridge, we are excited to highlight ten early-stage scientists and innovators.

You can take an active part in the event and show off your work during a 5-minute pitch in front of a panel of expert judges. Showcase your research and compete for a prize!

You can now submit abstracts for one of two routes:
🔬Science and academia
💡Commercialisation and start-ups

Join us in Cambridge to connect with the scientific and entrepreneurial Polish diaspora in the UK, including early-career scientists and researchers, professors, startup founders, investors, policy makers, and experts from the fields of medicine, technology, and innovation.

Venue

Event Agenda

Monday 15th September 2025, 9:00 - 20:00 GMT

The McCrum Lecture Theatre, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge CB2 1RH

9:00 - 9:30

Registration at the venue and welcome networking coffee

9:30 – 10:00

Official Event Opening

Welcome message from:

• Agata Nyga, SPP Cambridge Coordinator, Polonium Foundation

• Prof Philippa Hoski, Vice-President of Corpus Christi and Director of the Parker Library

• Prof Karol Sikora, Professor of Medicine, University of Buckingham, Life Fellow of Corpus Christi College

10:00 - 10:30

KEYNOTE SPEAKER / Academia

Ewa Marek, Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering Department, University of Cambridge

Can Life Inspire Energy Technologies?

session host: Michał Winnicki, Polonium Foundation

10:30 - 11:30

Discussion Panel

Crossing Borders: Shaping Science Through International Experience

Chair: Aleksandra Krzywańska, Polonium Foundation

• Barbara Krystyna Pierscionek, Deputy Dean, Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University

• Tomasz Liskiewicz, Head of Department of Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University

• Marzena Szymańska, Professor of Physics, University College London

• Rafał Mantiuk, Reader in Graphics and Displays, University of Cambridge

11:30 - 12:00

Workshop:

Justyna Lisińska, CORNESTONE Specialist Policy Officer, University of Southampton

How to influence policy through research and evidence.

session host: Zuzanna Dzieniak, Polonium Foundation

12:00 - 13:15

Group photo + Lunch

13:15  - 14:00

Science Spotlight - 5-Minute Pitches

Joanna Krupka, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Cambridge

Natalia Szulc, PhD Student, IIMCB (Poland)

Joanna Stachowska, Researcher, Veranova

Weronika Biała, PhD student, University of Southampton

Mateusz Lisiewski, MSc student, Imperial College London

Panel of Judges:

• Ewa Marek, Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering, University of Cambridge

• Agnieszka Bronowska, Senior Lecturer, Computational Medicinal Chemistry, Newcastle University

• Bartek Papież, Associate Professor, Medical Image Analysis and Machine Learning, University of Oxford

session host: Anna Nawrocka, Polonium Foundation

14:00- 14:30

Workshop:

Agata Zborowska, COO, Conception X 

Lab coats to pitch decks: lessons learnt in building deeptech startups

session host: Julia Mielcarz, Polonium Foundation

14:30 - 4:45

Coffee break

14:45  - 15:45

Discussion Panel:

Bridging the Gap: From Academic Research to Market Innovation

Chair: Agata Nyga, Polonium Foundation

• Zuzanna Brzosko, investor, ex M&A Eli Lilly, cofounder/CEO Sixfold Bioscience

• Michał Minczuk, Professor of Mitochondrial Genetics, University of Cambridge & Co-Founder of Pretzel Therapeutics

• Agnieszka Rutkowska, Executive Technology Consultant, Teledyne DALSA

• Jurek Kozyra, CEO Nanovery

15:45 – 16:30

Startup Spotlight - 5-Minute Pitches

Radek Lach, Nimble Bio

Magdalena Karlikowska, Cytecom Ltd

Michał Bista, Fusiomica sp. z. o. o.

Alicja Dzieciol, SilviBio

Panel of Judges:

• Aleksandra Pedraszewska, ex-ElevenLabs, Deep-Tech Founder, Angel Investor, Mentor to Early Stage Start-ups

• Barbara Domayne-Hayman, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Francis Crick Institute; Cambridge Angel 

• Agata Nowicka, Managing Partner, Visionaries & Founder of Female Foundry

session host: Ewa Nowicka, Polonium Foundation

16:30 - 16:45

Coffee break

16:45  - 17:15

KEYNOTE SPEAKER / Industry

Danuta Jeziorska, CEO & Founder, Uncover Therapeutics & Nucleome Therapeutics

session host: Michał Winnicki, Polonium Foundation

17:15 – 17:25

Polonium Foundation in the Future

• Jakub Orłowski, CBO, Polonium Foundation

17:25 – 17:30

Anna Fumarola, Project Manager, ConnectsUK

17:30 - 17:45

Best pitch awards

17:45 - 18:00

Closing remarks

• Michał Winnicki, Partnership Team Lead, Polonium Foundation

• Agata Nyga, SPP Cambridge Coordinator, Polonium Foundation

18:00 - 20:00

Informal Networking Evening - Corpus Christi Gardens

 This Agenda is subject to updates and alterations.

Keynote speakers:

Panelists and Judges:

Pitch presenters:

SPP Cambridge 2025 is co-financed by the Senate of the Republic of Poland in support of Poles and the Polish diaspora (Senat-Polonia 2025). The event is also supported by Connects-UK, co-funded by the European Union.

SPP Cambridge 2025 to zadanie dofinansowane w ramach sprawowania opieki Senatu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej nad Polonią i Polakami za granicą w 2025 roku. Wydarzenie jest również wspierane przez Connects-UK, współfinansowane ze środków Unii Europejskiej.

Community Partners

SPP Cambridge 2025 Coordinator