9 Sept 2026
Base One announces Nanomox as its third lab tenant
Nanomox, the Imperial College spinout pioneering ionic liquid-based chemistry, has been confirmed as the third occupier at Base One, taking two labs and one office at the newly launched science and technology hub in North Acton, where the company will scale production of its patented, high-transparency zinc oxide for use in mineral sunscreens and beyond.
Base One (previously 1 Portal Way) is a 55,000 sq ft innovation hub owned by Imperial and operated by science specialists Sciopolis. It offers 24 affordable, ready-to-occupy CL2 laboratories and flexible offices and great amenities for scaling deep tech companies.
Beyond the space itself, every tenant has access to the onsite Lab Manager from Imperial Incubator, who supports day-to-day technical lab needs and connects companies into Imperial's facilities and business support.
Having a landlord that understands science is a genuine advantage for companies wanting to hit the ground running, and Base One welcomes companies across all sectors, from cleantech and biotech to chemistry, advanced materials and AI, and from any university or geography.
Base One sits alongside Grapht Works, Imperial's dedicated advanced manufacturing site: together, these two facilities are part of Imperial’s Old Oak Innovation Cluster, which is a key anchor of WestTech London.
The move to Base One follows Nanomox's £2.4 million seed investment round, which will enable production of significantly larger volumes, accelerate product development and support growing commercial demand across multiple industries, as Nanomox works with beauty and skincare brands, formulation partners, contract manufacturers and R&D teams to bring its material to market.
Founded in 2020 by Dr Francisco Malaret and Professor Jason Hallett, Nanomox has grown within Imperial's innovation ecosystem, most recently based at Imperial Incubator on the White City Campus.
The move to Base One marks the company's transition from R&D into commercial-scale manufacturing, joining existing occupiers P.Happi®, the women's intimate health company whose product is sold in Boots, and Ki 13, the award-winning cleantech company converting biomass into green hydrogen and biogenic CO₂.
Nanomox has developed a cosmetic-grade zinc oxide using its patented Oxidative Ionothermal Synthesis (OIS®) process, which delivers high-performance UV protection with enhanced transparency, addressing the long-standing challenge of visible white residue in mineral sunscreens. Through precise control of particle size, shape and crystallinity, Nanomox® Zinc Oxide Cosmetic Grade (nano) has achieved an independently tested in vitro SPF of approximately 43, ahead of approximately 37 for the highest-performing benchmark material from leading global suppliers.
Nanomox's approach also represents a significant advance in sustainable materials production. Traditional zinc oxide manufacturing is highly energy-intensive. By contrast, Nanomox's ionic liquid chemistry operates at much lower temperatures, using up to 97 per cent less energy than conventional production and is powered by electricity that can be decarbonised through renewable sources – offering a pathway to lower emissions.
Looking ahead, the company is extending this sustainability approach by developing technologies to recover and refine zinc from industrial waste streams, including residues generated by steelmaking. Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steelmaking alone generates an estimated 10–16 million tonnes of zinc-rich dust globally each year, containing potentially more than 2 million tonnes of zinc. A significant proportion of this material remains unrecycled, adding to substantial legacy stockpiles accumulated over decades.
Alice Sewell, Investment Director, Imperial, said:
“Base One demonstrates the power of knowledge institutions, like Imperial, in helping science and technology companies to scale and grow. We know the real-world problems facing science occupiers and the support they need if they are to unlock the next stage of growth. That is why we have developed our spaces in Old Oak Innovation Cluster with a distinct focus on advanced manufacturing – only in Old Oak can businesses find the spaces, support and ecosystem they need to enable them to move from the lab into pilot and demo manufacturing.”
Charlie Mitchell, CEO of Sciopolis, said:
“Nanomox's arrival at Base One is a great example of exactly what this hub was built for, giving ambitious, science-led companies the cost-effective, flexible space and confidence to move from the lab bench into real manufacturing. Their technology has genuine potential to change how an entire category of everyday products is made, and we're proud to be part of that journey as they scale.”
Dr Francisco Malaret, Founder and CEO of Nanomox, said:
“Base One and the Old Oak Innovation Cluster is the only destination in London that enables us to start manufacturing whilst remaining in an ecosystem built for our stage of growth, where we can scale up production alongside likeminded companies solving similar problems.”
Graham Hewson, Head of Incubation and Prototyping Space, Imperial College London, said:
“We are thrilled to see Nanomox graduate from Imperial Incubator on the White City Campus and take the next step in their journey towards commercialisation. Over the past two years, Nanomox has made impressive progress, and we are delighted to have played a part in that journey.”