About

Focused on innovation grant funding for UK deep-tech start-ups

My name’s Leon Lever. Leverage was one of my nick-names at school.

I believe that having the technical expertise to gain a deep understanding of an innovation is critical to creating a convincing proposal narrative. It also saves a lot of time in the proposal preparation process.

I work closely with clients to help scope well-defined R&D projects that align with the objectives of grant funding competitions, and create compelling proposal narratives.

Profile & Background

Grant-writing experience

Authored approximately a hundred proposals targeting primarily Innovate UK funding, securing £38m for clients of primarily UK deep-tech start-ups.

Success in grants schemes including Smart, Innovation Loans, Faraday Battery Challenge, Emerging and Enabling Technologies, Biomedical Catalyst, Farming Innovation Programme, Energy Entrepreneurs Fund, Commercialising Quantum Technologies, Driving the Electric Revolution, Materials & Manufacturing, and Bridge AI (Collaborative AI Solutions to improve productivity in key sectors).
Successful grants clients operating in ML/AI, robotics, semiconductors, quantum technologies, Li-ion batteries, medical devices, biotech, agritech, engineering biology, software systems, decarbonisation, materials, energy, telecoms, electrical engineering, transport systems, and fintech.

Consultancy experience

10 years’ experience as a freelance consultant in science and technology. Authored research reports for clients including automotive OEMs. Analysis of experimental data and hypotheses from clients operating in fields including electrical engineering.

Background

PhD in Semiconductor Physics, plus 6 years’ postdoctoral experience in Quantum Electronics and Photonics.

PhD developing simulation models of electronic charge transport in organic semiconductors, focusing on discotic liquid crystals to enable design of transistors.
Postdoctoral research into semiconductor lasers, developing simulation software for light-matter interactions in quantum-confined semiconductor heterostructures, enabling design of terahertz quantum-cascade lasers based on GaAs/InGaAs and Si/SiGe.
Postdoctoral research into silicon photonics, designing and developing new waveguide-integrated germanium- and silicon-germanium-based quantum-well modulators and photodetectors.

Key competencies

Able to independently research topics and rapidly gain insight into a wide variety of technologies. Proven track record of quickly identifying the core innovative elements of commercially focused R&D challenges. Consistently demonstrated ability to clearly and concisely explain complex topics at a level appropriate for specific target audiences, including expert-level.

Technical expertise

Detailed understanding of multiple areas of science and technology. Able to rapidly gain an understanding of new technologies, especially those related to fundamental sciences and engineering. Significant expertise in semiconductors, photonics, electronics, nanotechnology, materials, and ML/AI; good working knowledge of software, biotechnology, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, decarbonisation, energy, quantum technologies.

About me

I’m a firm believer in life-long learning. As a kid I used to take things apart just to see how they work. I graduated with an MSci in Physics in 2001, then after a year as a loudspeaker design engineer, obtained a PhD in Semiconductors, followed by 6 years’ postdoc experience in Semiconductor Optoelectronics.

I carried out two postdocs in the Quantum Electronics Group at the University of Leeds, focusing on quantum cascade lasers and silicon photonics. These positions involved simulation development work to model light-matter interactions in quantum-confined semiconductor systems, as well as interpretation of experimental characterisation data on the resulting devices. They also involved significant technical analysis and communication as both postdocs were part of large consortia projects with industry partners.

I left academia in 2012 and took a sabbatical to travel, then refocused my career around consultancy, the mainstay of which has been writing innovation grant proposals. I have authored around a hundred grant-funding proposals, providing me with the opportunity to research topics including ML/AI, robotics, semiconductors, quantum technologies, Li-ion batteries, biotech, agritech, engineering biology, decarbonisation, materials, energy, telecoms, and electrical engineering.