Manchester’s £1.7bn innovation district, announces the appointment of Dr Karim Bahou as Head of Innovation.
In this role, Karim will spearhead the global development of Sister’s ecosystem, focusing initially on growing the early-stage ecosystem at the Renold Building and helping accelerate the growth of ambitious start-ups.
Karim brings over a decade of experience at the intersection of academia and industry. Prior to joining, Karim earned his PhD in the field of organic chemistry from Imperial College and has held academic research positions at Imperial College, CSIRO (Australia), and the University of Liverpool. He has also held senior consulting roles at Plexal and FIS360 Ltd., where he facilitated cross-sector collaboration between government, academia, industry leaders and SMEs to drive technological innovation.
As Head of Innovation, Karim will focus on building out the ecosystem Sister has been developing over the past year within the Renold Building. Activity will include providing support to entrepreneurs and businesses, strengthening links across the network, and promoting sustainable and inclusive growth.
Bradley Topps, Project Director at Sister and Chief Commercial Officer for Bruntwood SciTech, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Karim to the team as Head of Innovation. He joins us at an exciting time, as we celebrate the one-year anniversary of Sister and look to build on the strong foundations we’ve laid to grow and strengthen our ecosystem.
“Karim will be at the forefront of shaping this next phase of the project, identifying gaps and driving forward collaboration between key groups in our network to ensure we provide innovative entrepreneurs with the support they need to succeed.”
Dr. Karim Bahou said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Sister as Head of Innovation. This role brings an exciting opportunity to engage with founders and partners to strengthen collaboration, drive inclusive innovation and translate cutting-edge research into real-world impact.
“Sister has a vital role to play in the UK’s innovation landscape, helping to catalyse positive change and support the country’s ambition to become a global science and technology superpower. Joining at this early stage is a fantastic opportunity, and I look forward to growing the ecosystem and enhancing the support available to early-stage businesses here.”
Professor Aline Miller, Sister Executive Committee Member and CSO of Unit M at The University of Manchester said: “It’s wonderful to have Karim on board to provide specialist support to businesses within the Sister ecosystem. His work will help to provide a supportive environment for early-stage businesses within the Renold Building and we are excited to begin this collaborative relationship.
Karim will be working closely with Unit M’s Ecosystem Manager, who will provide streamlined access into the University’s talent and resources.”