White City hub
UKSPA News
Imperial tops out at
White City hub
Imperial College London has marked the completion of structural building work for its Molecular Science Research Hub and Translation & Innovation Hub with a traditional ‘ topping out ’ ceremony
The two interconnected hubs form one of the first major parts of the innovation ecosystem for the College ’ s new White City Campus , which is set to co-locate research , business and healthcare on a scale unprecedented in London .
The Translation & Innovation Hub will house co-located laboratories with major corporate partners , new start-ups
The new Translation & Innovation Hub is scheduled to open later this summer and fast-growth technology companies . Scheduled to open in summer 2016 , it forms part of a larger innovation ecosystem , managed by Imperial College ThinkSpace , which provides high-spec laboratory and office workspaces to companies at every stage of their growth .
Due for completion in 2017 , the Molecular Science Research Hub will be a state-of-the-art science building housing research from Imperial ’ s Department of Chemistry to seed a new molecular sciences neighbourhood , connecting with work in synthetic biology , data sciences , digital and health .
Imperial has partnered with investment firm Voreda to build the White City hub , in collaboration with construction firm Laing O ’ Rourke .
Prof David Gann , Vice President , Development and Innovation , Imperial College London , said : “ Imperial is helping to make White City thrive . We are proud to be at the heart of the area ’ s exciting new developments . Imperial is generating thousands of new jobs , driving growth and building a community of innovators , creating new opportunities at scale .
" We will ensure that these benefits are felt by the whole community from
Prof David Gann lays the final cement in the construction of the Translation & Innovation Hub
new employment and outreach work with schools to hackspaces and entrepreneurship hubs , linking local activity with global opportunity .”
Dr Eulian Roberts , Chief Executive of Imperial College ThinkSpace , said : “ This is a significant milestone in our ambitious vision for Imperial ’ s White City Campus . The Translation & Innovation hub will provide us with the environment to drive innovation and growth on an unprecedented scale – enabling the co-location of companies , corporations and institutions with world class research and healthcare innovation . I look forward to welcoming colleagues and partners to the facility .”
Investment boost for SETsquared tenants
Companies based at the SETsquared business incubator raised over £ 90 million of investment in 2015 – the highest annual investment figure ever achieved by the 14-year old enterprise partnership of the universities of Bath , Bristol , Exeter , Southampton and Surrey .
SETsquared currently supports some 260 high growth potential technology companies , all of which are developing businesses based on technology innovation in sectors as diverse as cloud computing , cleantech , medtech , next generation mobile and spacetech .
Independent research commissioned by SETsquared shows that its companies have
SETsquared announced the record investment news at a reception at the House of Commons , attended by the Minister of State for Universities and Science , Jo Johnson
created over £ 3.8bn of value ( GVA ) in the South of England ’ s economy since 2004 . SETsquared ’ s plans for continued growth will see the
economic contribution created by its companies rise to £ 8.6bn over the next 10 years .
Speaking at an event to celebrate SETsquared being named the global number one university business incubator , Simon Bond , Innovation Director at SETsquared , said : " This event has helped everyone attending to appreciate the profound effect that SETsquared ’ s ambitious , innovative , ventures have on our economy and entrepreneurial culture .”
“ It ’ s important for SETsquared , as the world ’ s leading university business incubator , to show the vital work that ’ s going on to help place the UK at the forefront of innovation and entrepreneurship .”
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