
Dr Geoffrey Knott
Academic and research departments
Research and innovation, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Student Enterprise, Doctoral College.About
Biography
Working in Innovation Strategy managing Surrey’s MRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) and IAA Commercialisation Fellowship programme (case studies here). Increasing focus on PhD Student innovation, IP, and start-ups (see our PGR IAA Officers programme).
Studied BSc Astrophysics, Aberystwyth Uni (2013), MSc Space Science & Engineering, UCL (2014), then PhD Spacecraft Engineering, Surrey (2018) during which I took my first steps into the world of start-ups and business through Surrey's Student Enterprise. There I learned about the business model canvas, value propositions, pitch practice, etc. which opened my mind to another world of rich experiences and opportunities to deliver a positive impact.
After achieving seed funding from Surrey - following three failed attempts - I set up my first business with a couple fellow Surrey students, HOP® (2018) which uses edible insects as a sustainable, high-quality, and ethical alternative source of protein in sports nutrition products. I worked on HOP® and established a couple more start-ups during my PostDoc (2018-21) and Covid.
Would like to go to Mars.
University roles and responsibilities
- MRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA)
- IAA Commercialisation Fellowship
- PhD Student entrepreneurship, IP and start-ups
- BBSRC IAA