Wellcome Connecting Science Engagement and Society

What Wellcome Connecting Science Engagement and Society does

Wellcome Connecting Science Engagement and Society is the learning, training, and public engagement programme of the Wellcome Sanger Institute, operating as a charitable programme governed by Genome Research Limited (registered charity in England, number 1021457) and funded entirely by the Wellcome charitable foundation. It is headquartered at the Wellcome Genome Campus in Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, UK, and operates with a small team of 14 employees delivering a portfolio of programmes across three pillars: Learning, Public Programmes, and Research and Society.

The organisation's core technology and methodological capabilities include DNA barcoding pipelines (DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, bioinformatics) adapted for educational use, a multilingual global online survey infrastructure (Your DNA, Your Say, deployed across 17+ languages and 75 countries), empirical ethics frameworks for everyday genomic research practice (Just Good Science), and deliberative democracy methodologies (citizens' juries) for public engagement on genome editing policy. Its product portfolio spans 30+ distinct programmes including Genomics Lite webinars, Barcoding for Beginners, Genome Academy work experience, Genomic Futures careers outreach, the Kavli Centre for Ethics, Science and the Public, and the UK Citizens' Jury on Genome Editing.

The business model is entirely non-commercial: all programmes — school visits, teacher CPD, community group tours, conferences, training courses, and public events — are provided free of charge to participants. Operating costs including equipment loans, consumables, travel bursaries, and venue hire are covered by Wellcome's multi-year grant funding, supplemented by targeted grants (e.g., Royal Society Partnership Grants) and co-funding from the Kavli Foundation. Customer segments are diversified across schools and young people, research and healthcare professionals (including genetic counsellors and nurses), general public and community groups, and patients with genetic conditions.

Name

Wellcome Connecting Science Engagement and Society

Legal name

Genome Research Limited

Website

https://wellcomeconnectingscience.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wellcome Connecting Science is the Wellcome Sanger Institute's charitable learning, training, and public engagement programme, delivering free genomics education, deliberative public engagement, and ethics research to schools, healthcare professionals, community groups, and international audiences from the Wellcome Genome Campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Genomics Education and Public Engagement

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM Research & Inquiry Programs (Research Mentorship, Science Fair Prep) (EDAMABAC), Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB), Science Tutoring (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth/Environmental) (EDANAAAB), Medical Affairs Scientific Communications (MSL Support/Scientific Response) (HLAGALAF)

Keywords

• Genomics public engagement
• Science education programmes
• Genetic counselling training
• Research ethics dialogue
• STEM outreach programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Hinxton , Cambridgeshire

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public Engagement Services (Free): All learning, training, and public engagement programmes are provided free of charge to participants. The organisation is funded by Wellcome (a charitable foundation) and operates as Genome Research Limited, a registered charity in England (number 1021457). No direct revenue is generated from programme delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wellcome Connecting Science delivers free learning, training, and public engagement programmes focused on genomic science and its societal implications. Offerings span school visits and teacher CPD, hands-on work experience, online courses for educators, public webinars and events, professional development resources for genetic counsellors, and deliberative research projects exploring ethics, policy, and public attitudes toward genomics. All programmes are provided free of charge and funded by the Wellcome charitable foundation.

Product overview

Wellcome Connecting Science is a learning, training, and engagement programme by the Wellcome Sanger Institute. Rather than a single product, it offers a comprehensive portfolio of interconnected programmes spanning education (Genomics for Educators, Resources for Genetic Counsellors, Resources for Teachers), public engagement (Genomics Lite webinars, Community Group Visits), careers outreach (Genomic Futures, Genome Academy, My STEMM Future, CREST SuperStar Awards collaboration), research initiatives (Your DNA Your Say, Data-driven Medicine, Exploring Race Diversity and Genomics), ethics projects (UK Citizens' Jury on Genome Editing, Just Good Science, Kavli Centre), and hands-on training (Barcoding for Beginners, Operational Science Work Experience, Insect Insights). These offerings range from digital content and online courses to in-person experiences and collaborative research projects, all focused on enabling diverse audiences to explore genomic science and its impact on research, health, and society.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Genomics Lite: A public programme of digital events and live webinars to inspire and engage public audiences with genomics, run on the Your Genome YouTube channel.
• Just Good Science
• Your DNA, Your Say
• My STEMM Future

Products and services

• Genomics Lite

Quantifiable outcome

• 89%+ of students reported increased interest in genomics after school conference visits
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• FutureLearnminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 7 April 2025Hosting the Genomics for Educators online course, a three-week accredited programme helping teachers incorporate genomics into their curriculum.
• British Science AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 January 2025Collaboration on CREST SuperStar Awards, introducing DNA and genomics-themed challenges for primary school pupils aged 7-11. Wellcome Connecting Science developed 'DNA and the World Around You' challenges.
• Royal SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2024Royal Society Partnership Grant funding the Barcoding for Beginners programme. Provides funding for 25 UK schools to conduct molecular biology and DNA barcoding projects, with teacher CPD sessions at Wellcome Sanger Institute and equipment loans.
• NIHR IBD BioResourceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Collaboration exploring approaches to return of additional findings from exome sequencing in inflammatory bowel disease research, with workshops involving researchers, clinicians, and participants.
• Hopkins van MilminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 September 2023Workshop design and facilitation partner for IBD BioResource project on return of genetic findings.
• Youth STEMM Award (YSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Joint initiative (formerly Black STEMM Future) supporting students from backgrounds historically excluded from STEM to complete Youth STEMM Bronze or Silver Awards with genomics activities and campus visits.
• University of CambridgecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 December 2021Kavli Centre for Ethics, Science and the Public collaboration between University of Cambridge and Wellcome Connecting Science, with funding from The Kavli Foundation. Sister centre at UC Berkeley.
• Association of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors (AGNC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Voices of Genetic Counsellors film series exploring genetic counselling work and skills. Partnership with the professional body representing genetic counsellors in the UK and Ireland.
• Colchester ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuzz Map partner site for flying insect population monitoring using DNA barcoding. One of five nature sites in East Anglia and North East London.
• Suffolk Wildlife Trust (Carlton Marshes and Lackford Lakes)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuzz Map partner sites for community science initiative mapping insect biodiversity using DNA barcoding.
• RSPB Rainham MarshesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuzz Map partner site for flying insect population monitoring using DNA barcoding.
• London Wildlife Trust Walthamstow WetlandsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuzz Map partner site for community science initiative in North East London.
• Zoological Society of East Anglia Banham ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuzz Map partner site for biodiversity monitoring through DNA science.
• Green Eyed Monster FilmsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDocumentary production company that filmed the UK Citizens Jury on Genome Editing, creating short documentary films recognised at multiple film festivals.
• Lambda FilmsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDocumentary production partner for UK Citizens Jury film, in collaboration with Green Eyed Monster Films.
• Tin Pot FilmsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCreative film partner for Music of Life project, co-creating six 90-second films using music metaphors to help genetic counsellors explain genomics concepts to patients.
• Thin Air FactoryminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCreative partner for Socialising the Genome and Music of Life projects, providing creative direction and emotional framing for public engagement films.
• Global Genomics Nursing Alliance (G2NA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported by Wellcome Connecting Science to achieve funding for three-day retreat at Wellcome Genome Campus on roadmap for delivering genomics into nursing practice worldwide.
• University of York Science Education GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on landscape review of genomics education in schools, investigating how genomics is currently taught and establishing need for earlier introduction.
• University of Cambridge Botanical GardensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on DNA barcoding project enabling students to generate barcodes for 12 endangered plant species at the Botanical Gardens.
• University Technical College CambridgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school for DNA barcoding project where students generated barcodes for endangered plant species.
• Unity Schools PartnershipcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of secondary schools whose students participate in annual schools conference at Wellcome Sanger Institute, with approximately 200 Year 10 students from 9 schools.
• Abbey PeopleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCambridge-based charity partnership for after-school science club bringing DNA science to young people in one of Cambridge's most deprived areas.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Royal Society: UK national academy of sciences with extensive public engagement, schools, and education grant programmes; funder of the Barcoding for Beginners Partnership Grant and overlapping on teacher CPD and STEM equity.
• British Science Association: National UK charity running CREST awards, British Science Week, and school engagement programmes; overlapping mission in science capital building and partner on the CREST SuperStar Awards collaboration.
• Genomics England: UK government-backed organisation delivering genomic medicine at scale, with its own participant engagement, public dialogue, and education initiatives for the 100,000 Genomes Project — overlapping mission around genomic literacy and patient/public engagement.
• Wellcome Sanger Institute: The host institute of which Wellcome Connecting Science is the learning, training and engagement programme; directly comparable as a UK genomics research organisation with public-facing and training activities.
• Francis Crick Institute: Major UK biomedical research institute with a substantial public engagement, schools, and community programme; comparable in offering hands-on science access, teacher CPD, and outreach targeting underserved London audiences.
• Genetic Alliance UK: UK charity representing patients and families affected by genetic conditions; overlaps directly with Wellcome Connecting Science's work on patient voice in genomic policy and engagement with underserved communities.
• The Royal Institution: Historic UK charity dedicated to science education and public engagement through talks, schools workshops, and masterclasses — a direct comparable in the public engagement and science communication niche.

Broad incumbents

• Science Museum Group: UK national museums running large-scale public engagement programmes, schools sessions, and learning resources on science including genetics and biomedical topics; overlapping audience and mission at greater scale.
• Wellcome Trust: Parent charitable foundation funding Wellcome Connecting Science; the broader Wellcome Trust runs its own public engagement and science education programmes at scale, making it the closest institutional peer and natural partner.
• EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory): Intergovernmental molecular biology research organisation with international training courses and public engagement activities; directly comparable as a globally oriented life-sciences training and outreach provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@wellcomeconnectingsciencee1961
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/engagewcs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Wellcome Connecting Science Engagement and Society