Science communication is about telling the story.
Science marketing is about getting the right people to listen—and act.

At its core, science marketing means creating value for your unique set of audiences. It’s where strategic positioning, technical accuracy, and compelling messaging come together to help researchers, teams and institutions secure funding, build partnerships, and drive real-world impact.

Start with your audience

Effective science marketing begins by understanding who you're trying to reach—and what they need from you.

• Are you targeting funding bodies, commercial partners, government departments, or industry leaders?

• What are their priorities, pressures, and success metrics?

• How can your work directly support their goals?

Once you understand this, you can shape your communication strategy to clearly show why your work matters—and why they should back it.

Position yourself strategically

Positioning is more than just messaging. It’s about setting your research or group up for long-term engagement and visibility.

Here’s what that might include:

• Who you need to connect with—and why they’re the right fit.

• Where you need to show up—think conferences, pitch nights, online forums, or strategic roundtables.

• What your key message is when you get there—and how to deliver it with confidence.

• Who in your team is the relationship builder—and how to support them.

• How your offering solves a problem, fills a gap, or drives innovation.

Why science marketing is different

Science marketing isn’t just regular marketing with a lab coat. It requires:

• A deep understanding of scientific research and its ecosystem

• The ability to translate complex ideas without losing accuracy

• Strategic insight into funding, stakeholder engagement, and commercialisation

• The right tone for both academic and non-academic audiences

It’s a rare mix. But it’s exactly what we do.

Why work with Straight Up?

We’re scientists too—just with marketing brains.

Our team blends qualifications in science, communication and marketing, with 15+ years of experience across government, academia and tech. We understand your world, your challenges, and what actually works when you need to influence funders, stakeholders, and decision-makers.

Whether you need help writing a grant, developing a pitch, mapping your audiences or refining your messaging, we’re here to make sure your science doesn’t just speak—it lands.