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Biomineralisation clothing concept from CSM’s MA BioDesign course — developed in collaboration with the Francis Crick Institute. Both are founding members of the Knowledge Quarter.
Celebrating both clinical and creative breakthroughs, June saw the Knowledge Quarter at its most dynamic – from hosting roundtables on techbio with Chris Gibson, the CEO and Co-Founder of Recursion, and on dementia with UCL, to touring Central Saint Martins’ (CSM) ongoing graduate show, where the next generation of creatives is imagining new futures through art, science, and design.
This summer, the KQ continues to explore the intersection of creativity, health, and wellbeing – from a disability-led performance festival at Camden People’s Theatre, to feel-good short courses at WM College in Tai Chi, jewellery-making, and more. To stay cool and curious, you might hydrate at Wellcome Collection’s ‘Thirst’ or sample the future of data, fashion, and food at The Mills Fabrica.
Don’t forget to join us next week for the Alan Turing Institute's London Data Week: connect over drinks at our Data Social, or explore the future of data careers at our event for students and early-career researchers.
Wherever your summer takes you, inspiration is always just outside your door in the KQ.
So, how will you get creative with your health this summer?
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Upcoming: London Data Week kicks off across the city
London Data Week (7-13 July) is a city-wide festival brings together anyone and everyone to learn, create, and connect. Supported in part by KQ member The Alan Turing Institute, the UK’s national institute for data science and AI.
JOIN US AT OUR EVENTS
KQ Data Social with UCL Grand Challenges – with drinks on us!
Wed 9 July, 6–9 PM | Impact Hub London Euston
Kick off London Data Week with our new community social.
It will be a relaxed evening linking data scientists, researchers, tech developers, community groups, students, and more in the KQ to solve data challenges for social good.
In between drinks, you will hear lightning talks by UCL data scientists from UCL's newest Grand Challenge programme, Data-Empowered Societies – from empowering Inuit communities to co-designing inclusive emergency response systems.
Future Paths in Data Science with Novo Nordisk
Thur 10 July, 2–5 PM | Impact Hub London Euston
What will the next generation of data careers look like?
Speakers from Novo Nordisk, Google Health, Relation Therapeutics, Recursion, Wellcome, and other KQ members will share everything they know in an afternoon of panels for early-career scientists, students and talent professionals.
Please note that this event is now fully booked, and a waitlist is available.
What's On This Summer
Creative Health
At the start of July, Camden People’s Theatre is running the disabled-led Every Body Festival (29 June-13 July) where you can expect everything from innovative performances, workshops, digital work, panel discussions, parties, and more. They've got every body covered.
8 July–17 October | Finger Talk | Wellcome Collection
Experience an intimate installation celebrating British Sign Language. Created by deaf artist Oliver MacDonald, Finger Talk invites visitors to reflect on communication, care, and connection through a sensorial textile display.
Thirsty for new knowledge? Check out Wellcome Collection’s newest exhibition on humanity’s deep relationship with freshwater around the world. Image credit: Before it's gone. © M’hammed Kilito.
Image alt-text: A man staring down a well in the middle of a desert.
2-6 July | CSM Postgraduate Art Show | Central Saint Martins
Featuring work across art, science, photography, theory, moving image and more.
6 July | Cally Festival | Islington
This Saturday, enjoy a day filled with live music, art, workshops, and community spirit on Caledonian Road, in the heart of Islington.
10 July | Hitler’s Mein Kampf: Reflections 100 Years On | Leo Baeck Institute London
Historian Lisa Pine examines the ideology and impact of Hitler’s Mein Kampf in this LBI Summer Lecture at Senate House, placing the work in historical context and exploring its continued relevance.
July–August | Summer in Camden | Camden
Plan your perfect summer day out with rooftop music, vibrant street food, vintage shopping, and pop-up events across Camden’s historic markets. From laid-back brunches to buzzing after-hours gigs, to activities for kids, including a dance show by The Place there’s something for every mood.
Until 14 September | Spineless Wonders | Senate House Library
Discover the hidden power of publications without spines, which are fragile, often-overlooked works that shaped social movements, politics and creative culture.
Until 1 February 2026 | Thirst: In Search of Freshwater | Wellcome Collection
Explore our deep relationship with freshwater in this new exhibition tracing global stories from ancient Mesopotamia to modern-day Singapore. With over 125 artefacts, artworks, and new commissions, Thirst looks at water’s power to sustain, shape, and threaten life.
Family Fun
19 July | Family Dance Day | The Place
The Place takes over Coram’s Fields in Bloomsbury with a fun-filled day of performances, workshops, storytelling and more for kids of all ages and their grown-ups.
23 July–29 August | Mimi’s Tiny Adventure | Institute of Physics
A hands-on summer exhibition for families with kids aged 7-11, uncovering the power of tiny things through physics experiments, crafts, and puzzles. Drop in weekdays, 10am-4pm.
3 August | Ice Sunday | London Canal Museum
Feeling hot? Descend into Victorian ice wells on this once-in-a-year guided tour. Discover the story of how ice was cut in Norway and sent by sailing ship to London’s Limehouse Docks, and onward by canal to the 1860s ice warehouse, now home to the London Canal Museum. Hear from expert historians, and sample pre-refrigeration ice cream (from £10.50).
5 July | Family Festival: Story Explorers | The British Library
A day of creativity inspired by the library’s free family exhibition, Story Explorers: A journey through imaginary worlds. Suitable for families with children 2–9, but all ages welcome.
THE FUTURE OF FOOD & FASHION AT THE MILLS FABRICA
Now–31 July | Last chance to visit the Taste of Tomorrow Exhibition | Fabrica X
This month is your last chance to visit The Mills Fabrica’s inaugural agrifood exhibition at Fabrica X London. The exhibition spotlights the groundbreaking innovations transforming our food system and shaping what we will be eating over the next 25 years.
The last Fabrica Lates event is taking place on 31 July.
14–27 August | Fabula: Responsible Fashion Stories | Fabrica X
Discover the favourite sustainable fashion finds of over 20 cultural figures in this exhibition celebrating style and sustainability.
The Mills Fabrica are also offering KQ 50% off your first coffee when you quote KNOWLEDGE QUARTER SPECIAL at their new sustainable café on York Way, serving B-Corp certified Ozone coffee and fresh pastries. Valid from 1 July–31 August.
Another new community cafe, Spicy Laas, has opened at STCA, serving affordable Pakistani and Grenadian fusion food. Open to all and also available for event catering.
News
10-Year UK Industrial Strategy Released
"City regions are the engines of the modern economy. City centres are where businesses, skilled workers, Higher Education providers, and innovation networks connect; and where knowledge-intensive service sectors flourish. In turn, they generate job opportunities for people living in surrounding towns."
The UK’s new Industrial Strategy, released last week, highlights the vital role of city centres and 'clusters' ("places where the integration that increases innovation happens") – like the Knowledge Quarter, one of the UK’s most advanced innovation districts – in driving innovation, jobs, and growth for the UK economy.
The Strategy recognises that to unlock growth, we need strong local partnerships – between government, universities, businesses, and communities – alongside targeted investment to support high-potential sectors like life sciences, digital technologies, and creative industries. These are all areas where the Knowledge Quarter excels, thanks to the wide range of world-class organisations based here.
Through initiatives such as the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund and closer partnerships with local authorities, the government also aims to boost investment in other clusters across the country to create new jobs, support startups, and accelerate cutting-edge research that benefits both London and the wider UK.
Jobs & Opportunities Spread
Opportunities
Innovate UK BridgeAI: High Growth AI Accelerators with Digital Catapult
Tap into the power of AI in solving real-world challenges with two opportunities from Digital Catapult:
The final High Growth AI Accelerator: Agriculture, where UK startups and SMEs can work directly with industry leaders like Nestlé and Dale Farm to develop AI solutions for agriculture and food production. Apply here by 13 July.
Register your interest for the Accelerator Showcase: Construction on 10 July where you can hear from 10 AI startups transforming the built environment, alongside Foster + Partners, Versarien, and Buro Happold.
Feel Good Short Courses with WM College
Try your hand at jewellery making, Tai Chi, photography, glass art, dressmaking and more with WM College’s short courses for adults. Taught by expert tutors, these paid classes support the college’s mission to keep creative learning accessible to all.
Applications Open for KQ Labs Accelerator Programme
For early-stage startups in the KQ innovating at the interface of data science and biomedical research: applications open next Tuesday 8 July (until 28 August) for KQ Labs, a leading accelerator based at the Francis Crick Institute that supports early-stage, data-driven health startups (those that use AI in drug discovery, precision medicine and diagnostics, or digital health products) with a £40k investment, a bespoke 5-month curriculum and connections to top industry experts and investors.
Any questions, contact the team on kq-labs@crick.ac.uk.
Jobs
School Cover Manager – Regent High School
Salary from £34,223 | Due 7 July | Apply here
Head of Change – Wellcome Trust
Salary from £105,500 | Due 17 July | Apply here
Executive Assistant – SOAS University of London
Salary from £35,318 | Due 31 July | Apply here
Business Development Manager (UK) – The Mills Fabrica | Apply here
Help scale sustainable innovation by leading partnerships and expanding service offerings at this impact-focused hub for fashion and food tech.
Marketing Intern – The Mills Fabrica | Apply here
Innovation Associate – Digital Places Catapult | Due 15 July | Apply here
An entry-level opportunity supporting innovation projects in a tech-focused environment.
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