Dr Sandeep Sandhu is a global leader in research, innovation, and science diplomacy, with extensive experience at the interface of science, policy, and industry. She is Executive Director of Global, Insights and Investment at Innovate UK Business Connect, where she drives international engagement and supports businesses to innovate, accelerating UK innovation and growth through cross-border collaboration.
Her career spans senior roles at UK Research & Innovation, Innovate UK, and the Medical Research Council, where she directed major international programmes such as the Newton Fund and Global Challenges Research Fund. She has played a pivotal role in shaping international science policy with organisations including Science Europe, the OECD, and the Global Research Council.
Sandeep also leads high-impact cross-border initiatives, including the Global Expert Missions and Global Alliance Africa, which convene government, academia, and industry to tackle shared challenges and unlock innovation-led growth.
As a member of the UK Young Academy, she champions the role of early-career professionals in science diplomacy and co-leads projects that explore how young academies can strengthen global cooperation in turbulent times. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Birmingham, where she began her career in defence-related research.