Roland Sinker CBE, CEO of Cambridge University Hospitals, has been appointed to lead a review on how the University of Cambridge can deliver inclusive innovation and growth. The review, requested by Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice, will focus on setting objectives from within the university and will work closely with Innovate Cambridge.
The initiative aims to use the university’s academic strengths and resources to ensure that economic growth benefits a broad segment of society. It includes advancing investment in deep-tech at Cambridge West and leveraging health data and artificial intelligence for life sciences.
Announcing the appointment, Professor Prentice stated: "Cambridge is at a pivotal moment. The Government’s recent announcements of major investment in Cambridge highlight both the national importance of our innovation ecosystem and the expectations upon us to deliver. We have already made extraordinary contributions, producing education, research, spinouts, and life changing technologies, services and treatments that add £30 billion to the UK economy every year. Our ambitions are to go further still.
"I have therefore asked Roland Sinker to convene partners across the Cambridge cluster to translate a fully inclusive growth strategy into concrete actions. This work will extend beyond our immediate community to meet our national responsibilities, including leadership with others in the OxCam Corridor and our collaboration with Manchester."
Sinker will begin his role on January 1, 2026. The review is set for 12 months and will involve collaboration with various partners across Cambridge as well as stakeholders in related sectors such as deep tech and sustainability.
He is expected to work alongside Lord Vallance, Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear; Peter Freeman, Chair of The Cambridge Growth Company; as well as other key partners and independent experts. The effort aligns with government strategies for regional development along the OxCam Corridor.
Lord Vallance commented: "I am pleased to have worked with the Vice-Chancellor and Roland Sinker on the Cambridge roadmap to deliver inclusive growth, and I warmly welcome this appointment. It shows significant commitment from Cambridge to push ahead with fast deliverables over the next 12 months. I look forward to working with them to get real momentum."
The review aims to clarify how collaboration between university partners and local communities can ensure that innovation-driven growth is broadly beneficial. It builds on recent frameworks established by the university for civic engagement.
Progress will be measured against specific KPIs in each priority area.
Sinker brings experience from his decade-long collaboration with the university as CEO of Cambridge University Hospital (CUH) and from his previous role as NHS England National Director for Life Sciences. He will continue supporting philanthropic efforts related to cancer research hospital projects while also helping drive partnerships at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.