Duncan Johnson, CEO of Northern Gritstone, discusses why the north of England has all the potential required to rival the South East in commercialising science and innovation, the challenges of backing early-stage deep tech companies with very long investment journeys, and why ambition and resilience are so important in developing tech hubs.
Johnson has been chief executive of the investment firm since 2021 and has guided its vision of growing the northern economic ecosystem by backing innovative new technologies. Northern Gritstone’s portfolio companies include Pragmatic Semiconductor, C-Capture and Re:course. Johnson is adamant that the ingredients required, such as the exceptional talent from the region's universities, to make the north a tech powerhouse are all there and while it will take time, it's an achievable goal worth fighting for.
What is UKTN | The Podcast?
Each week, Jane Wakefield sits down with some of the key movers and shakers from the UK tech ecosystem for the UKTN Podcast. Learn growth strategies from both seasoned and up-and-coming founders, hear market sentiments from investors, and understand the tech policy affecting businesses across the country.
The UKTN Podcast provides insight into the most influential people in the UK’s innovation economy, exploring their personal and professional journeys and hearing their views on the hottest tech topics of the day.