Innovation news

An image of 3 people at a Canopy event smiling and socialising with a crowd of people behind them. Taken from within the Entopia building at CISL.

CISL’s innovation ecosystem accelerates sustainable solutions to global challenges, connecting founders, startups, corporates, and investors to scale impactful change. Through initiatives like our Cambridge innovation hub, CANOPY, and programs in startup acceleration and collaborative innovation, we empower purpose-led entrepreneurs and guide major organizations in embedding sustainability-driven strategies. Explore our latest stories and insights below to see how our community is driving transformative impact worldwide.

Two men stand infornt of the doors of a Cambridge University College, Jesus College is photographed from above and two women are photographed coming to and from CISL's Entopia building.

Neutreeno: The journey of a Cambridge cleantech startup on the rise

31 March 2025 - This blog follows Neutreeno, a pioneering Cambridge-born cleantech venture, as it grows from academic research to a potential global force in decarbonisation. With deep roots in the University of Cambridge and support from innovation hubs like CISL’s Canopy, Neutreeno is redefining sustainability by helping businesses eliminate emissions at the source. Discover how this deeptech startup is leveraging cutting-edge science, strategic investment, and the power of collaboration to tackle the $130 trillion decarbonisation market.

The Entopia Building photographed from Regent Street

What is it like to work in a collaborative hub fostering sustainability and innovation?

27 March 2025 - CISL’s Chief Innovation Officer James Cole details a day in the life at CISL’s Entopia Building, a world-class innovation hub, recently named by the Financial Times as one of Europe's leading startup hubs for the second year running.

Canopy (CISL) named by the Financial Times as one of Europe’s leading startup hubs for a second year running

26 February 2025

27 February 2025 - CISL’s Canopy has once again been recognised as one of Europe’s leading startup hubs, following its selection by the Financial Times in collaboration with Statista for the 2025 rankings.

The London Eye in London, Kings College in Cambridge and the Radcliffre Camera from Oxford are all photographed here.

Reflections from my UK Immersion Experience

17 December - Nuno Taveira, CEO of ENFASYS and Investor at CENTUM Research and Technology reflects on his experience vising the UK during the Desafia Londres Cleantech Programme, and shares his advice for startups looking to explore UK markets during CISL’s accelerator and immersion programmes.

Forest and mountains in Colombia with sun shining through clouds

A radical transformation of our economies is the only way to save nature, and ourselves

4 November 2024 - After two weeks of negotiations last week in Cali, Colombia, the meeting was suspended with no overall agreement on a path forward on “resource mobilisation." CISL's Chief Innovation Officer, James Cole, looks back at happened at COP16, and asks what comes next.

Current markets don’t fully value sustainability—but sustainability entrepreneurs can’t wait for this to change

25 September 2024 - James Cole, Chief Innovation Officer at CISL reflects on the importance of innovators in helping to build the markets we need for a more sustainable and equitable future.

This is a computer generated image of blocks representing buildings in a city, with lines running below the blocks lighting up, representing an energy grid actively supplying the city with energy and power.

A view from the Canopy: Why Clear Planning and Collaboration can Accelerate Our Energy Transition

25 September 2024 - In this blog, Claire Hannon, from Advanced Infrastructure , discusses why she thinks collaboration is the key to unlocking the energy transition and discusses how her organisation is working on a new Local Area Energy Planning (LAEP) Tool and the impact this could have on energy planning and consumption locally.

Canopy member awarded Purple Plaque for contribution to innovation

26 July 2024

31 July 2024 - Dr Liz Zijing Li from Canopy member Mimicrete unveiled her Purple Plaque this month, highlighting the importance of support for women in innovation.

CISL alumni AirEx awarded prestigious certificate for quality in the construction industry

19 July 2024

23 July 2024 - CISL accelerator alumni was awarded a BBA certificate for their AirEx product, which supports healthy and sustainable ventilation.

New members to CISL's Canopy enabling businesses to transform sustainably

18 July 2024

23 July 2024 - CISL’s innovation team works to catalyse collaborative innovation to accelerate solutions to global challenges, and is pleased to welcome new members to our community.

Neutreeno: The journey of a Cambridge cleantech startup on the rise

What is it like to work in a collaborative hub fostering sustainability and innovation?

Canopy (CISL) named by the Financial Times as one of Europe’s leading startup hubs for a second year running

Reflections from my UK Immersion Experience

A radical transformation of our economies is the only way to save nature, and ourselves

Current markets don’t fully value sustainability—but sustainability entrepreneurs can’t wait for this to change

A view from the Canopy: Why Clear Planning and Collaboration can Accelerate Our Energy Transition

Canopy member awarded Purple Plaque for contribution to innovation

CISL alumni AirEx awarded prestigious certificate for quality in the construction industry

New members to CISL's Canopy enabling businesses to transform sustainably

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