Building Innovation Ecosystems

We work with public, private and community stakeholders to drive innovation and socio economic growth.

We partner with corporates, SMEs, Start-Ups and local government to make growth, innovation and R&D projects a reality.

We deliver local IMPACT through accelerators, incubators and labs.

We work with stakeholders - Authorities, Businesses, Universities, Communities and Entrepreneurs - to make Innovation Ecosystems a reality.

Our services include:

  • Innovation Ecosystem, Growth and Delivery Strategies

  • Business Support Programmes, Accelerators, Incubators and Labs

  • Intrapreneurship Programmes

  • End to end R&D Innovation Projects

  • Knowledge Exchange Partnership Curation

  • Innovation Skills, Capacity Building & Leadership Development

  • Identifying, accessing and distributing funding and financing opportunities to enable growth and innovation

Innovation Ecosystem Delivery

IMPACT SME Programmes

We work with councils, local authorities, anchor institutions, universities and industry clusters to drive positive business outcomes by harnessing Productive Innovation as an engine for growth.

Our long-format programmes take a unique approach to supporting SMEs to achieve growth outcomes, supporting them through tailored, achievable and value-lead activities to make real progress on new business ideas, services & products, and adoption of new technologies and processes.

Innovation Capability

We work with large organisations to develop ‘Engines’ of productive innovation, driven by Intrapreneurs, Enablers and Innovators.

We foster internal talent and support grassroots innovation, building capacity to solve challenges and develop new opportunities from within. We engage external expertise to enable open innovation and collaboration.

We leave behind an entrepreneurial, engaging and sustainable capability for organisations - public and private - to make innovation and growth happen.

Are you an SME looking to tackle big challenges and unlock new opportunities?

Get in touch to find out about support options.

Are you a strategic or local authority looking for a new, proven way to cultivate entrepreneurial growth in your region?

Get in touch to find out about how we can help.

Innovation Ecosystem Strategy

We work with organisations to lay out strategic roadmaps for innovation and growth, making the difficult, practical. We utilise methods and tools from the innovation world to take an alternative look at sticky problems and focus areas, assisted by AI. We enable our clients to take meaningful steps forward, bringing together a range of stakeholders on a variety of topic areas, as required. We know how to ensure action as a result - make strategy ‘talk shops’ a thing of the past!

South London Retrofit Roadmap

Net-Zero Delivery Blueprint

Metaverse Strategic Roadmap

Our Work

Our Work
Delivering a data-backed pilot of an agile transformation to support a smoke-free future
Delivering a data-backed pilot of an agile transformation to support a smoke-free future
Studio Zao’s Role in Driving Innovation in the IMPACT Programmes for Torbay and Croydon Clients
Studio Zao’s Role in Driving Innovation in the IMPACT Programmes for Torbay and Croydon Clients
Richmond & Wandsworth Councils: Retrofit Blueprint Acceleration
Richmond & Wandsworth Councils: Retrofit Blueprint Acceleration
Galvanising Invigorating and strengthening the South London ecosystem with a new roadmap for innovation and delivery of Retrofit activity in the region
Galvanising Invigorating and strengthening the South London ecosystem with a new roadmap for innovation and delivery of Retrofit activity in the region
Impact Acceleration for Academic-lead Knowledge Exchange Propositions at Kingston School of Art
Impact Acceleration for Academic-lead Knowledge Exchange Propositions at Kingston School of Art
Accelerating Strategic Alignment and Delivery Mobilisation of a Transformation Programme for Anglian Water to Tackle Water Pollution Risk
Accelerating Strategic Alignment and Delivery Mobilisation of a Transformation Programme for Anglian Water to Tackle Water Pollution Risk
Designed a New Operating Model for Pfizer’s UK Digital Healthcare Hub
Designed a New Operating Model for Pfizer’s UK Digital Healthcare Hub
Delivered an Intrapreneurship Business Growth Accelerator for SMEs in South London with BIG South London
Delivered an Intrapreneurship Business Growth Accelerator for SMEs in South London with BIG South London
Instilled a Problem-Solving Culture at Places for London, a Public Property Manager
Instilled a Problem-Solving Culture at Places for London, a Public Property Manager
Created a Digital Suite of Innovation Tools and Resources for Remote Innovation Sprints for the UK Civil Service
Created a Digital Suite of Innovation Tools and Resources for Remote Innovation Sprints for the UK Civil Service
Captured Digital Growth Opportunities Through a Remote Intrapreneurship Programme for Aptar
Captured Digital Growth Opportunities Through a Remote Intrapreneurship Programme for Aptar
Built New Ventures and Developed Entrepreneurial Capabilities for Sport Brands
Built New Ventures and Developed Entrepreneurial Capabilities for Sport Brands
Aligned Senior Leaders on a Unified Innovation Framework and Platform Through a Strategic Alignment Programme
Aligned Senior Leaders on a Unified Innovation Framework and Platform Through a Strategic Alignment Programme
Tackled Opportunities in the Pharma Supply Chain Through a Remote Intrapreneurship Programme
Tackled Opportunities in the Pharma Supply Chain Through a Remote Intrapreneurship Programme
Increased Staff Retention and Service Improvement for NHS Frontline Staff through a Remote Intrapreneurship Programme
Increased Staff Retention and Service Improvement for NHS Frontline Staff through a Remote Intrapreneurship Programme
Aligned Pearson Senior Leaders On The Opportunities Offered By The Metaverse For Education
Aligned Pearson Senior Leaders On The Opportunities Offered By The Metaverse For Education
Helped Senior Leaders Learn and Implement Strategic Innovation Methods Through a Leadership Programme for Sony Music
Helped Senior Leaders Learn and Implement Strategic Innovation Methods Through a Leadership Programme for Sony Music
Turned Uncertainty Into Growth Through Internal Intrapreneurship Workshops for Transport for London
Turned Uncertainty Into Growth Through Internal Intrapreneurship Workshops for Transport for London
Delivered a Remote Business Case Development Programme for Aptar Group
Delivered a Remote Business Case Development Programme for Aptar Group
Empowered genomics scientists to translate research into tangible innovations for Wellcome Genome Campus
Empowered genomics scientists to translate research into tangible innovations for Wellcome Genome Campus
Instilled Systematic Entrepreneurship Within Researchers at The Institute of Cancer Research
Instilled Systematic Entrepreneurship Within Researchers at The Institute of Cancer Research
Delivered an Online Business Accelerator Programme for Pearson
Delivered an Online Business Accelerator Programme for Pearson
Created New AI-Based MedTech Ventures To Tackle Challenges in Mental Health for Eastern AHSN
Created New AI-Based MedTech Ventures To Tackle Challenges in Mental Health for Eastern AHSN
Developed 10 MedTech Ventures Via A 6-month Venture Building Programme
Developed 10 MedTech Ventures Via A 6-month Venture Building Programme
Defined A Lean Innovation Strategy For Aspect Capital
Defined A Lean Innovation Strategy For Aspect Capital
Prepared New Product Roadmaps Through A Fully Remote Workshop for the John Innes Centre
Prepared New Product Roadmaps Through A Fully Remote Workshop for the John Innes Centre
Accelerated Academic Research Translation in the Food Sector with Imperial College London
Accelerated Academic Research Translation in the Food Sector with Imperial College London
Aligned TV DTG Industry Executives On The Future Of The Broadcast Media Industry
Aligned TV DTG Industry Executives On The Future Of The Broadcast Media Industry

Testimonials

  • “For businesses that need help with diversifying, this programme is really good in giving you the tools and time to think about new ideas separate from your normal working environment. Being taught how to work through idea generation in a really logical, simple way just makes the process much easier.” Katrina Dickinson Managing Director at Metaphor

    Katrina Dickinson

    Managing Director at Metaphor

  • “What I really valued about the programme was the structured process that Studio Zao took us all through to crystallise the problem that we were trying to solve, for whom we were solving it, why it was important, and the value of solving that particular problem for our key stakeholders.”

    Graham Kennedy

    Founder/Director at Alexoria Consulting

  • “There has been a strong degree of understanding, empathy and flexibility in how Studio Zao have pivoted with the circumstances that we’re facing on the programme, and that’s why we’re keen to keep working with them beyond the end of the contract.”

    Paul Kirkbright

    Head of Partnerships at Business Innovation & Growth South London (Sponsor / Client)

  • “We came into the programme with an idea that we felt was already ready to go to market. But we took a step back and by taking it through this very structured and rigorous process, we found that we’ve refined it and actually transformed it into a much stronger, simpler and more credible idea.”

    Jill Finch

    Director at Branch & Bird and Autistic Community Hub CIC

Ready to make innovation happen?

Get in touch today to explore how Studio Zao can help your organisation or ecosystem make innovation happen and deliver better ROI.