Eastern Angels CleanTech Showcase 2026 brings investors, innovators and advisers together at Hethel Engineering Centre
Updated: 15 hours ago
Eastern Angels pleased to welcome the regional CleanTech community for a content-led showcase and networking session delivered in partnership with Hethel Innovation and supported by Connected Innovation, spotlighting fast-growing businesses and practical routes to investment and scale.
On 30 April 2026, Eastern Angels hosted its sell-out CleanTech Showcase 2026 in partnership with Hethel Innovation and supported by Connected Innovation at the Hethel Engineering Centre in Norfolk, bringing together professionals, industry experts and decision-makers to explore the opportunities emerging across the CleanTech landscape.
What we heard
Insight-led discussion: presentations and panel conversations focused on where CleanTech innovation is gaining momentum—and what’s needed to commercialise and scale.
Innovation showcases: a series of presentations and case studies highlighting regional businesses applying technology to energy, carbon reduction and resource efficiency.
Capital and growth perspectives: practical reflections on funding pathways, partnership models and the role of strategic capital in accelerating deployment.
Connections that count: high-quality networking across founders, advisers and investors—creating new conversations and follow-up opportunities beyond the room.
CleanTech East: Building a regional cluster
Fiona Lettice, Emeritus Professor of Innovation Management – UEA, introduced CleanTech East—a new sector cluster designed to connect businesses, researchers, investors and the public sector to accelerate innovation and knowledge transfer. She set out the vision for its base at Scottow Enterprise Park, targeting early pilots and collaboration across areas including waste-to-energy, battery storage, low-carbon production, data centre decarbonisation and sustainable aviation.
Keynote: Sustainable Development Goals as market signals
In his keynote, Johnathan Reynolds (Opergy) reframed the UN Sustainable Development Goals as market signals shaping policy, capital and customer demand. He urged the region to seize the East of England’s strengths as an investable CleanTech geography—and to focus on what investors back: clear market timing, credible routes to revenue and a team that can deliver.
Panel: From prototype to commercial reality
The panel discussion explored what it really takes to move CleanTech from promising prototypes into bankable, deployable solutions. Panellists shared practical perspectives on proving demand, running pilots, building partnerships and navigating the funding and procurement hurdles that often sit between innovation and repeatable commercial rollout. With thanks to the panellists:
Johnathan Reynolds – Managing Director, Opergy – Panel Chair
Saffron Myhill – Low Carbon Innovation Fund Manager
Steven Wilson – Head of Innovation, Business Engagement and Inward Investment, Freeport East
Peter Kinsley – Innovation Manager, ORE Catapult
John Farley – Co-Founder, iBoxit
Thank you to our partners and participants
We’re grateful to Hethel Innovation for partnering with us on the CleanTech Showcase and to everyone who joined us to share ideas, challenge assumptions and build new connections. Events like this work because of the energy in the room—from speakers and showcasing companies to the investors and advisers leaning in to support the next stage of growth.
Get involved
If you’d like to be involved in future Eastern Angels sector showcases—whether as a speaker, a showcasing business or an attendee—please get in touch with the Eastern Angels team at laura@easternangels.co.uk You can also keep an eye on our events programme for upcoming dates and themes.
Capital at risk. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Comments