7 Questions With Sister’s Head of Innovation, Dr Karim Bahou

Sister represents a new way of thinking about innovation: one based on collaboration, not competition. One year on from Sister’s launch last autumn, we’re proud to introduce a new member of the team who will be instrumental in making this vision a reality: Sister’s new Head of Innovation, Dr Karim Bahou.

With a career that spans from a PhD in Organic Chemistry, to working with industry, government and start-ups across engineering biology, AI, and quantum computing, Karim brings an interdisciplinary skillset and invaluable perspective to drive our mission of building a global science and technology hub where world-changing innovations can scale. 

We sat down with Karim to learn more about his story and distinctive career, hearing what inspires him, what drew him to Sister, which emerging technologies he’s excited about – and much more.

Read on to find out what Karim had to say!

1. Could you share a snapshot of your story and career as an innovation consultant? 

Karim: “After spending around 10 years at the cutting-edge of academia and industry (developing novel methods and technologies to synthesise organic molecules) I decided to shift focus to working closely with businesses solving real-world problems.”

“I became an Innovation Project Manager, enabling the technology transfer of solutions for nuclear decommissioning, and later took on the role of Innovation Consultant, facilitating collaboration across government, academia, industry leaders, and SMEs to drive technology innovation.” 

“This involved conducting research and generating insights on emerging technologies for a variety of public and private sector clients – including engineering biology, cyber security, communications technology, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and semiconductors.”

2. What inspired your interest in innovation – was there a defining person, moment or experience?

Karim: “As a child, I was always inquisitive about how the physical world worked. In fact, almost all of my close family (brothers, parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts) have a keen interest in technology and innovation in one way or another – and I’m always discussing new innovations and technologies with my three brothers, debating which we are most excited about.” 

“Pinpointing a specific moment that resonated: It was during my PhD at Imperial College, when my supervisor, Prof Chris Braddock, described organic chemistry as the most creative science (in his opinion). This was for two reasons: not only must you be creative to design new methods and synthetic routes, but you are also literally creating new material – often molecules that no one has ever made before.” 

“This has always stuck with me. It felt pioneering in many ways to make something entirely novel. During my academic career, I’d estimate I’ve made 1000+ compounds – around 300 of which have never been made before.” 

3. Outside of work, where do you find your own sources of inspiration or creativity?

Karim: “My best ideas occur whilst out in nature, usually when either cycling, trail running, or walking my dogs! I find that podcasts and audiobooks are another great way to stimulate new ideas and creativity – especially on long drives.” 

“I also find that meeting and connecting with people in person, hearing their stories, attending demonstrations and events, and seeing new technologies in action is a great way to gain new inspiration.” 

4. What drew you to Sister and what makes Sister different? What excites you about joining Sister now? 

Karim: “Sister is a really unique proposition – located in the heart of Manchester, linked to a world-leading research institution and university with a fantastic history of innovating and trend-setting.”

“What drew me to Sister is that it knits together the two main threads of my career: academia and industry. Working at this interface is what really excites me – applying cutting edge research and ideas towards solving real-world challenges.” 

“In terms of what makes Sister stand out, it’s the focus on inclusive, sustainable and socially responsible innovation. Sister offers something different from other innovation hubs that focus solely on growth and profit, with much less emphasis on the impact on the world around them.” 

“The plans for Sister are ambitious, and it’s exciting to be joining at such an early phase of the project – and even more exciting to think of all the possibilities for how it can grow and materialise.” 

5. How will you approach launching new, innovative initiatives and programs at Sister?

Karim: “The first step will be to get embedded in Sister’s ecosystem: understanding the businesses within it, what they do, where they are on their growth journeys, and what kind of support they might need – identifying the gaps within that. 

“Next, it will be important to connect, and work closely with, the University of Manchester and Unit M – establishing what support they can offer businesses and how we can provide access through Sister’s partnership." 

“In terms of what new initiatives we might explore at Sister, I’m really interested in bringing international partners into the ecosystem and encouraging their collaboration with SMEs and start-ups in our community. Open innovation programmes are also of interest, as they’re a fantastic way to find new solutions to often age-old problems – encouraging an open, collaborative and inclusive approach to innovation.”

6. From quantum to climate tech to biotechnology – which emerging sectors, trends and technologies are you most excited about and why?

Karim: “The convergence between AI and synthetic biology is a crucial area for me, as it’s set to have a tremendous impact on all of society over the coming years. While they're both individually impactful, when you bring together two different high-impact technologies – ones that converge and catalyse each other – that's when you unlock next-level opportunity.” 

“That’s why Sister is so important – it’s a community of businesses across sectors that can connect, collaborate, and leverage their diverse intersections. As technologies converge, these leading-edge organisations need to be talking to each other and working together. That's the kind of community we want to create at Sister.”

7. How can Sister support the UK’s mission to become a science and technology superpower?

Karim: “The UK has great science and technology strengths, and the UK government has identified advanced connectivity, AI, engineering biology, quantum and semiconductors as critical technologies. The Manchester ecosystem already has strengths in many of these technologies, and the University of Manchester has also produced world-leading research in these areas.”

“Sister will be a critical piece in the innovation jigsaw puzzle, catalysing positive change to support the UK’s mission to become a science and technology superpower. To build our sovereign capability, we have to ensure there is a robust supply of well-funded, well-supported, innovative companies. Sister is set up to provide exactly the right environment to ensure that these companies can establish, grow, and thrive.”