Turning science into real-world impact
Zinc Innovation Partners exists to turn science into real-world impact. Our vision is a future where the world’s most urgent problems are tackled faster, more effectively, and at far greater scale.Achieving this requires a profound shift in how science and innovation are funded, supported, and connected. ZIP drives that shift by designing and delivering pioneering programmes that unlock the potential of science and research to improve the health of people and the planet. We work with funders, research institutions, businesses and innovators to accelerate the journey from discovery to solutions to change.
What We Do
We assemble partnerships to:
Design and deliver innovation programmes that bridge research and application
Catalyse collaboration across disciplines, sectors, and institutions
Accelerate commercialisation of scientific IP for impact
Support exceptional talent to thrive at the intersection of research and innovation
Build ecosystems and coalitions that mobilise funding, talent, and adoption pathways
Spotlight Programmes
Discover how our flagship programmes are driving measurable impact across sectors.
Catalyst
Our Catalyst programmes help researchers and innovators turn cutting-edge science into new ventures tackling society’s biggest challenges. Each programme focuses on a defined mission area, bringing together diverse experts, providing funding and hands-on support. Catalysts build the skills, networks, and momentum needed to move ideas from the lab to real-world impact.
Fellowships
Zinc Fellowships connect exceptional postdoctoral researchers with ventures working to solve pressing societal challenges. Ventures gain access to cutting-edge research talent, while Fellows gain commercial insight and hands-on experience working in early-stage innovation. Together, they advance science towards scalable impact.
Regulatory Innovation
Our Regulatory Innovation programmes bring together pioneers in science, enterprise and policy to shape a smarter, more innovation-ready regulatory system. We help innovators navigate complex routes to market, and help regulators understand how systems can evolve to foster sustainable growth. We help make regulation a driver of progress, not a barrier to it.
Bespoke
We work with funders, research institutions, and innovators to design ambitious, tailored initiatives that unlock impact. From experimental funding models and new IP licensing approaches to cross-sector coalitions, our bespoke programmes are tailored to tackle complex barriers and help drive learning for the innovation ecosystem as a whole. We convene events, conduct research and coordinate funds.
Our track record
Our programmes have mobilised hundreds of researchers, funded pioneering teams, and accelerated innovations making real-world impact.
Multidisciplinary Food Systems Catalyst
With UKRI, we mobilised 100+ researchers across 73 organisations, forming 41 interdisciplinary teams, of which 10 received funding and tailored Zinc support. These teams are tackling challenges from bioengineering to school meals.
Healthy Ageing Catalyst
With UKRI, we’ve supported 73 research teams from 43 UK universities with £7.4m in funding and bespoke support, accelerating innovations that improve independence and wellbeing in later life.
Zinc Innovation Fellowships
We place outstanding postdoctoral researchers into ventures, bridging science and commercial innovation. Fellows gain hands-on experience while ventures gain deep scientific expertise. Delivered with Vivensa Foundation and NIHR, the programme is now in its third cohort.
Regulatory Innovation
Working with Brunel University, Helix Data Innovation, UCL, Imperial College, Kings College London, the Health Innovation Network and the BMJ Group, Zinc is a partner in the RADIANT network, part of a UK Centre of Excellence in Regulatory Science. With support from Innovate UK, MHRA, OLS, and MRC, ZIP is helping innovators in digital health and AI navigate regulation and bring solutions to market faster.
Digital Mental Health Network
With Wellcome, we led a programme to catalyse collaboration in digital mental health, connecting 600+ stakeholders across research, industry, and policy to accelerate scalable interventions for anxiety, depression, and psychosis.
Why Work With Us
Empowering funders, researchers, and innovators to accelerate meaningful progress.
Proven experience
With leading funders including UKRI, NIHR and Wellcome
Problem-first approach
Starting with urgent challenges, not technologies
Trusted convenor
Uniting researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, & policymakers
Mission-driven
Everything we do aims to turn research into solutions with lasting impact
Let’s Work Together
Zinc Innovation Partners can help you:
Launch a Catalyst programme in your sector
Support exceptional researchers with bespoke Fellowship pathways
Build new partnerships or coalitions
Create new innovative mechanisms to accelerate the translation of science into impact
Our Team
Leaders, scientists, and innovators committed to accelerating meaningful progress.
Polly Mackenzie
Co-Founder & CEO
A leader from the social sector with extensive experience in government and higher education, Polly combines strategic vision with practical experience in building partnerships and driving societal impact. She ensures ZIP’s programmes focus on the challenges that matter most and deliver measurable outcomes.
Rachel Carey
Co-Founder & Chief Science Officer
With a background in behavioural science and psychology, Rachel has been Chief Scientist at Zinc since 2017. Rachel is also a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, an Associate of the UCL Centre for Behaviour Change, and a Sciana Health Leaders Network Fellow. Rachel brings deep expertise in research translation and innovation strategy. She drives ZIP’s approach to turning scientific insight into actionable, scalable solutions.
Elisa Arthofer
Lead, Health Innovation Partnerships
Elisa brings deep expertise in medicine, biotech, and health innovation, with over a decade of experience leading cross-functional programmes at the interface of science, partnerships, and venture building. At ZIP, Elisa leads on health innovation partnerships, working with funders, researchers, and startups to accelerate the translation of science into solutions that improve health and wellbeing at scale.
Luke Charbonnier-Bevan
Innovation Manager
Luke has a PhD on Uncertainty in Climate and Energy Systems at UCL, a Masters in Sustainable Energy Futures from Imperial College and an undergrad Physics at Oxford. Luke’s broad experience spans government covid policy/science, climate finance, energy consultancy and R&D investment strategy. At Zinc, he specialises in Deeptech and the Environment
Alex Cheswick
Food Innovation Partnerships
Alex holds an MSc in Entrepreneurship from UCL and has extensive experience supporting startups in the food and climate tech sectors to commercialise their innovations and secure investment. At Zinc, Alex works closely with founders to turn ambitious ideas and research into scalable, commercially viable ventures that create meaningful real-world impact. Having previously managed Zinc’s portfolio of environment and health ventures, Alex now leads the Multidisciplinary Food Systems Catalyst and is building Zinc’s partnerships across the food sector - from agritech to nutrition and waste reduction.
Maria Fomina
Senior Associate
Maria has BSc in Global Health and Psychology with a minor in Immunology from University of Toronto, and an MSc in Health Psychology from UCL. Previously, she worked at a behavioural science consulting company in Canada on digital health projects for private and public sector clients. She leads our Innovation Fellowships programme.
Let’s Create Impact Together
Join our growing network of funders, researchers, and innovators who are shaping a better future through science. We’d love to hear about your ideas, challenges, and ambitions — and explore how Zinc can help you accelerate real-world change.
Turning science into real-world impact. We design and deliver pioneering programmes that bridge research and application.
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