Sarah Petrie PhD

My journey

1. 01

   Research scientist

   I started my career as a lab-based research scientist, initially as a PhD student and then as a postdoctoral researcher. It taught me to ask good questions, test my assumptions and follow the evidence, and those habits have shaped everything I have done since. It also helps me to understand the motivations of many founders who are driven to see their research deliver impact.

2. 02

   Scottish Enterprise

   Over more than two decades, I created national innovation organisations from the ground up, including the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre, and secured the investment behind major collaborative ventures. That work gave me a deep understanding of how government, industry and academia can work together, and what it takes to bring partners with competing interests behind a shared objective.

3. 03

   Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc Ltd

   I delivered a £60M joint venture between the public and private sector, first as founding Innovation Director and then also as Chief Operating Officer. In the process I helped companies to raise £30M in investment funding, over £12M in competitive R&D funding and supported 55 early-stage companies through MSIP's Accelerator programme. In addition, a £25M transformation programme developed the Innovation Parc infrastructure.

4. 04

   SPIS Consulting today

   I work on a fractional basis through SPIS Consulting Ltd, advising founders, academics, investors and public agencies on commercial development, investment readiness and commercialisation strategy. I also serve as a board advisor and mentor to early-stage companies, and am a Commercial Champion at several universities.