Investment Uncut: Duncan Johnson: institutions invest in the UK’s high growth science & technology ecosystem?

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There’s growing momentum behind the push for UK institutions to invest more domestically. But where are the genuinely attractive opportunities and what do they look like? 

In this episode of Investment Uncut, we speak to Duncan Johnson (Chief Executive at Northern Gritstone) to delve into the UK’s high growth science and technology ecosystem. We explore why the UK is a global leader in this space, the types of companies attracting investment, and how to assess these opportunities that are on the cutting edge of science for which markets may not exist yet! 

For our Views from the Boardroom section, Letty is joined by Zuhair Mohammed (Head of Investment at LCP) to give a sneak preview of our upcoming Investment conference and what attendees can expect. 

What’s one thing you would like listeners to take away?

• To your listeners, who might not have invested in venture capital yet because of concerns over liquidity or the J-curve effect (where early costs outweigh returns), this is a space that deserves a place in a portfolio. It offers real alpha potential alongside broader societal benefits. Northern Gritstone wanted to make university spinouts more accessible and investible for pension capital and today over 70% of our capital comes from pension funds. 

Any recommendations?

• The Rest is History
• Chip War by Chris Miller
• The Strike Collection by Robert Galbraith