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10 June 2025 Feasibility Study: designing the Heart of Innovation in Hammersmith & Fulham The new Hammersmith Civic Campus is already turning heads— the distinctive RHSP design, bathed in summer light, is a confident, colourful development that reflects an equally bold vision. As the borough’s leader Stephen Cowan put it during our project briefing: “You decide every day if you want to be the most miserable or the best version of yourself. Working in a place like this inspires you to be creative, to bring energy, to be the most innovative version of yourself.” That’s exactly the kind of environment we aim to help create. With Upstream London, Phase 2 of its Industrial Strategy , Hammersmith & Fulham Council is building on the success of the White City Innovation District – its joint collaboration with Imperial College London. The ambition is to extend its STEM³ innovation formula—science, technology, engineering, maths, medicine, and media—across the entire borough. Creating an “Innovation Borough” is no small feat. It demands a clear-eyed understanding of local strengths and gaps, thoughtful integration of existing assets, and the creation of new infrastructure that complements rather than duplicates. Most importantly, it requires a central place—a visible, vibrant hub where this vision can come to life. That’s where Sciopolis comes in. We’ve been commissioned by Hammersmith & Fulham Council to deliver a Feasibility Study exploring what the “innovation heart” of the Civic Campus could and should be. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be working closely with Councillor Cowan and his team to shape a space that reflects the borough’s ambition and supports its innovation ecosystem. What We are Exploring As with all our feasibility work, we’re focusing on two key dimensions: · The Space: What should the physical environment look and feel like? What kinds of behaviours and interactions should it encourage? How can design support collaboration, creativity, and serendipity? · The Mission and Ecosystem: Who will use this space—and why? How do we attract the right mix of people, organisations, and ideas? What makes this hub distinct, and how does it connect to other local innovation assets? We’ll be mapping the borough’s capabilities, speaking with stakeholders, and identifying emerging needs. Our goal is to propose a space that is inclusive, future-facing, and deeply embedded in the local innovation narrative. Let’s Build This Together This is the kind of project we love: ambitious, collaborative, and rooted in place. But before we start designing solutions, we want to hear from you. 📣 Are you based in Hammersmith & Fulham? Do you work in science, tech, media, or innovation and have ideas about how the Civic Campus could support your work or your community? Are you interested in taking space and being part of this ecosystem? 👉 We’d love to hear from you. Drop us a message and help shape the future of innovation in your borough. 👉Read more about Upstream London: Hammersmith & Fulham’s Industrial Strategy

31 July 2025 One Portal Way, Old Oak - Sciopolis Appointment Imperial to launch new scale-up space for science and technology ventures in partnership with Sciopolis, delivering urgently needed affordable lab space for London Imperial College London is progressing the innovation-led regeneration of Old Oak with the launch of a new scale-up space for science and tech firms that delivers urgently needed affordable lab space for London One Portal Way, Old Oak is being delivered through a partnership of Imperial and Sciopolis, specialists in flexible, ready-to-occupy lab and office space. It has been designed to meet the needs of innovative scale-ups and will open its doors in mid-2026 The new facility is part of Imperial’s Old Oak Innovation Cluster , which brings together commercial spaces for innovation-led, high growth businesses and accommodation for more than 1,500 Imperial students and key workers Over the next decade, Imperial plans to transform its assets within the Old Oak area to create London’s new innovation and advanced manufacturing hub Imperial’s campus is part of the Old Oak and Park Royal Opportunity Area, London’s largest brownfield regeneration area, which is being delivered by OPDC, and at the heart of WestTech London, a globally significant innovation ecosystem that is igniting frontier innovation and cementing the UK’s position as a science superpower. Read the full coverage in The Standard Imperial College London is launching a new scale-up space for science and technology ventures, One Portal Way, Old Oak , helping to alleviate London’s shortage of affordable lab space and enabling rapidly growing businesses to remain in London as they scale. This new facility not only addresses the shortage of affordable specialist lab space in London, which threatens to hold back the growth of the UK’s science and tech sectors, particularly for startups looking to scale. It also creates a distinctive offer which enables direct connection and support from the world’s leading STEMB university, giving emerging businesses an unrivalled opportunity to grow at pace. One Portal Way, Old Oak will reinvent an existing building into 55,000 sq ft of fully fitted lab and office space, ready to occupy by a community of up to 30 scale-ups in mid-2026. The new facility is part of Imperial’s Old Oak Innovation Cluster, which brings together commercial spaces for innovation-led businesses and accommodation for more than 1,500 Imperial undergraduate students, staff and key workers. Imperial is partnering with Sciopolis – specialists in flexible, ready-to-occupy lab and office space – to develop and operate the space. Occupiers will benefit from the support of Imperial Incubator, the university’s home for early-stage lab-based companies, who will provide on-site assistance and facilitate connections to Imperial’s innovation ecosystem. Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial, said : “The UK, and London specifically, is exceptional at discovery science - but we risk becoming a place where great ideas are born, but cannot grow. One of the most urgent challenges is the lack of specialist, affordable lab and grow-on space. Our new innovation facility in Old Oak is a direct response to this challenge, a flexible, ready-to-use space that combines top-tier lab infrastructure with connection to a global university, creative industries, manufacturing capability and exceptional local, national and international transport connections.” Sciopolis CEO, Charlie Mitchell, said: “We know how challenging it is for startups and scaleups to secure suitable and affordable laboratory space. Speed is of the essence, as many ventures are being held back by the lack of grow-on infrastructure, which is why we are partnering with Imperial and other landlords to rapidly convert well-located, unused office and industrial space into innovation hubs with labs, amenities, and support. These spaces are designed to act as catalysts, attracting innovators and quickly building vibrant communities. One Portal Way, Old Oak is a prime example: a building bursting with potential to transform an area and launch a new chapter for Imperial in Old Oak.” Imperial’s One Portal Way, Old Oak will catalyse the transformation of Old Oak, within London’s largest regeneration zone, and play a role in supporting the major development pipeline for the local area which is being led by OPDC with the close involvement of other strategic partners including Ealing Council. In the future, the wider area will benefit from the Old Oak Common Station superhub, which is set to be the UK’s best-connected rail interchange with HS2, the Elizabeth line, Great Western Main Line and Heathrow Services. Imperial’s Old Oak Innovation Cluster is already well connected to central London and the UK via the Elizabeth line, central line and A40, and adjacent to Park Royal, the UK’s largest industrial area which is home to c.1,700 business and supports over 40,000 jobs. One Portal Way is less than 10 minutes from Imperial’s White City Deep Tech Campus. Located at the heart of WestTech London, the creation of One Portal Way, Old Oak ignites Imperial’s plans for the long-term transformation of its assets in the Old Oak area and supports its commitment to make West London the science and technology growth engine for the UK. WestTech London is an emerging innovation ecosystem that will become a globally recognised powerhouse for investment, economic growth and job creation, cementing the UK’s position as a leader in science and technology. WestTech London is bringing together industry, investors, universities, NHS trusts, local authorities, developers and government to fuel innovation and drive global impact. Ealing Council’s Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, Ealing Council’s lead member for decent living incomes, added : “Our borough is at the heart of WestTech London and our role as a national centre for science and technology is growing all the time. Our jobs and skills strategy – which is aligned with the National Industrial Strategy and London Growth Plan - highlights science and innovation as a priority growth sector for the borough, which can deliver thousands more well-paid jobs for residents over the coming years. The plans coming to fruition at One Portal Way will bring new businesses here that will help to grow our economy. We look forward to continuing to our joint working with Imperial and OPDC, establishing Old Oak as London’s new town for frontier innovation.” OPDC’s Chief Executive David Lunts says : “OPDC’s regeneration of Old Oak will create a revitalised urban district for West London, bringing major new investment into the local economy alongside thousands of new jobs, affordable homes and transformed public realm. Old Oak will deliver over 8,000 new and affordable homes, 6 acres of green open space and up to 2m sq ft of workspace." Imperial’s Old Oak Campus includes student accommodation and key worker homes, with 1,500 students and staff currently resident in the area, as well as the 9.6 acre Victoria Industrial Estate, which Imperial is repurposing to provide vital prototyping and advanced manufacturing follow-on space for scaling businesses. Imperial has ambitious plans for its assets in the Old Oak area which will support c. 4 million sq ft of additional development, including the long-term redevelopment of the broader 4.5 acre One Portal Way site. Imperial’s redevelopment of the One Portal Way site will deliver a new green heart for Old Oak, including a major new public garden, retail, amenities and services, alongside new homes across various tenures, including student accommodation, and 300,000 sq ft of flexible workspace. For more information about the scale-up space or to book a tour visit sciopolis.co.uk/oneportalway

3 Apr 2025 The Times: Universities slash equity stakes in tech spinouts Last week, The Times reported that the average stake taken by universities in tech spinout ventures dropped to 16.1 per cent, a ten-year low, having been as high as 24 per cent in 2019 – based on a study commissioned by The Royal Academy of Engineering. I was very encouraged to see this statistic as I have, first hand, seen the tension that comes when a business wants to spin out from a university environment and the university wants to take a significant equity stake. Where businesses can be formed with relatively little capital and can be inspired by concepts that do not need access to significant physical assets to prove them then it doesn’t seem reasonable for universities to take significant stakes in the spin out. However, it seems entirely reasonable that universities should be rewarded appropriately for creating the environment for an idea to become a business and for enabling and supporting the early stages along with providing access to academic insight and supervision. I expect that a more proportionate approach will lead to more businesses being established, as the risk / reward trade off for founders who decide to take the leap to create a business is more favourable to them and I also suspect that such moves will encourage founders to look to the university to help (and therefore they will take a stake) rather than seeking to avoid it. In the long run, I believe this trend will lead to more innovation, entrepreneurship and therefore, one could argue, greater total returns for the university sector. Universities have a key role to play in nurturing and promoting innovation and translation into impact and this modernisation of the equity position they take in spin outs is, I believe, a positive move for all. Read The Times article here Follow us on LinkedIn

29 Nov 2023 Sciopolis (sai-op-o-liss) - What's in the name? The making of science was rarefied and hardly ever linked to the hustle and bustle of urban dwellings. This view was profoundly changed by the Covid crisis, which almost overnight rebranded Science as an urgent, highly relevant activity which necessitated the convergence of many strands: central and local Government impetus, joined-up talent pools, entrepreneurship, easy access to technology and equipment, laboratory space, and access to capital. Crucially, all of these ingredients required an element of physical proximity and connectivity to jell together in a timely fashion and to generate momentum. Covid made science sexy (demand for STEM courses is higher than it’s ever been) and propelled it from the peripheries to the centre, more specifically to city centres, where virtuous connections are more easily created. While Covid has waned and we have generally returned to normality, it remains clear that doing science in cities is here to stay, because of a number of benefits that make it a compelling choice for researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovators alike. Hence the name we chose for our company, Sciopolis = Sci ence in the metr opolis. Our objective is to make “Science in the City” a success, by facilitating the construction and operationalisation of vibrant tech and science ecosystems. Easier recruitment: Access to top talent is the #1 problem for growing science companies. Aside from the simple fact that cities are exciting places which attract young people to live, work and play, they are also often home to world-class universities, hospitals and research institutions, as well as a diverse pool of skilled professionals with a wide range of expertise. Cities create an obvious centre of gravity where excellent talent can be more easily sourced. Easier collaboration: For the same reasons as above, it is also easier in cities to collaborate with top researchers, engineers, and other specialists, and to tap into a rich network of mentors, advisors, and investors. Cities offer more networking events, conferences, informal gatherings, etc. all of which bring together communities of like-minded people, providing more opportunities to connect and advance ideas. In particular this is most important for early-stage startups who face numerous challenges and uncertainties which - in the absence of a supportive and accessible community - they may struggle to solve by themselves. Easier access to state-of-the-art facilities and resources: Many cities have specialised research centres, state of the art hospitals, and other resources such as training and mentorship programs, that are specifically designed to support scientific research and development, and to accelerate the pace of innovation. The right equipment, at the right time, coupled with the right academic expertise can fast track scientific discovery. All of this is made easier when access between different institutions is facilitated by good transport infrastructure which is typically found in big cities, but also by the support of a landlord who makes the effort to create useful networks for their tenants to access directly. The logistics of access to institutions should not be underestimated. Easier to create stickiness: A vibrant environment with wrap-around support, excellent infrastructure and common amenities serviced by the public transport is critical to support scientific innovation. Nurseries are as vital as labs in the creation of stable scientific ecosystems, and choosing locations where – for example- young lab technicians (typically not the highest paid of professions) can live, work and play without driving long distances is key in creating a stable cluster, and increasing its long term stickiness where companies and people choose to ‘stick’ for the long term. Of course, doing science in metropolitan environments also comes with its own set of challenges and trade-offs. They can be expensive, competitive, and fast-paced places which can sometimes, and somewhat conversely, make it more difficult to attract and retain top talent, secure funding, and navigate complex regulatory environments. However, even taking these challenges into account, Sciopolis firmly believe that the opportunity and benefits of doing science in the city far outweigh the challenges. Ultimately we are absolutely convinced that creating flexible spaces to support the development of science activities in well connected metropolitan locations is a logical and strategic step which forms a key reason for our formation.

20 Nov 2025 Sciopolis wins New Business Launch of the Year We’ve just been recognised as the New Business Launch of the Year at the Estate Gazette Awards 2025 . And yes, we’re thrilled! The judges said: "Given that limited track records often challenge young companies, the judges were looking for ambition, innovation, and a business plan capable of shaking up the sector. SCIOPOLIS stood out for addressing a clear market gap, combining cutting-edge innovation, social impact, scalability, and strong institutional backing" Recognition like this matters. It shows that the flywheel is starting to move, our vision of building innovation hubs across the UK is gaining traction, and the wider industry is taking notice. The category celebrated ambition, innovation, and a business plan with the potential to shake up the sector, and that’s exactly what we’re here to do. It’s great to be recognised by a prestigious Built Environment publication, but here’s the irony: at Sciopolis, we’ve always believed that building is only a small part of what we do. The real story is what happens inside the building. More Than Bricks and Mortar Our CEO Charlie Mitchell put it best in a recent interview: “I’m an engineer, so I get really excited about buildings. But in reality, building are only about 50% of our proposition. The more important 50% is the service proposition we wrap around it, and in particular the work we do to create a useful community, to connect our tenants with the right people and to help them grow their businesses.” That other 50% is where the real value lies. It’s about: Taking away the pain, by offering ready-to-occupy labs and offices, so growing companies don’t waste months negotiating leases, hiring lawyers or managing contractors. Building an active and supporting community through events and installing collaboration as a culture. Creating places that innovators and their teams want to be. Supporting tenants with their innovation, by linking them with trusted partners who can provide equipment, materials, branding, advice of all kinds, mentors, and connections into universities and institutions they’d otherwise spend months trying to find. That doesn’t mean the building isn’t important. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. If you design it well, you stop it from ever being a problem. You systematically remove friction in the way tenants use it. You design spaces that promote collaboration. You make reception permeable and exciting, not a security moat. You create a building that fades into the background because it works so well that people don’t even need to talk about it. Recognition and Expansion So yes, we’re proud of the award. It’s recognition of the hard work we’ve put in, and a sign that other people think we’re heading in the right direction. But we’re even prouder of the fact that Estates Gazette has recognised the bigger picture in their coverage of our UK-wide expansion plans, showing how the right infrastructure can accelerate innovation and help grow the UK economy. Because while the award celebrates the launch of our business, the coverage highlights what makes us different: the way we’re putting innovators first and building a network of hubs across the UK, where they can thrive. Are you a landlord or university looking to build an innovation hub? Or a science and technology venture looking for ready to occupy lab and office space with great ecosystem support? 👉 Read Sciopolis for landlords and ventures and get in touch 📍 Find out more about our current locations

FAQ's What is an FAQ section? An FAQ section can be used to quickly answer common questions about your business like "Where do you ship to?", "What are your opening hours?", or "How can I book a service?". Why do FAQs matter? FAQs are a great way to help site visitors find quick answers to common questions about your business and create a better navigation experience. Where can I add my FAQs? FAQs can be added to any page on your site or to your Wix mobile app, giving access to members on the go.

11 Mar 2025 Origin Public Consultation: see what is being proposed and have your say.

6 Oct 2025 October - Monthly Update Saying Yes to Talent, Chairs and Sustainable Stories September was a month of movement across campuses, communities and conversations. Our Oyster cards and Lime bikes got a workout. From immersive college labs to mustard chairs and air ducts in listed buildings, we saw how small actions and shared values can unlock real momentum. And in Old Oak, the story is gaining speed. Building Talent Pipelines: College Visits We began the month at North Hertfordshire College, thanks to our partners at CK Group. From GMP-ready labs and VR sets to reconstructed hospital wards, the facilities were a powerful reminder of how education and industry can co-create the skills our economy needs. Later, we visited West London College’s Ealing campus, hosted by Daljit Singh Bains and Julie Claridge. Specialist labs and immersive rooms showcased the depth of local talent being developed. These visits are part of our commitment to connect enterprise with education, building future tenant pipelines at One Portal Way while giving students a glimpse of science in action right in their community. We feel very strongly about our duty and opportunity to make an impact on this. Gamification with Purpose: Imperial’s Digital Media Lab We also visited the Digital Media Lab at Imperial College London, where digital media, VR games and immersive STEM experiences are designed to inspire the next generation. What stood out most was the team’s grounded approach. Technology was treated as a tool, not a trend. Huge thanks to Daniel Mitelpunkt and Robyn Lowe for the tour. Plenty of inspiration as we shape our own digital space at One Portal Way, and hopefully we will work with this talented team in the near future. Circular Economy in Acton: A Chair Exchange At 8am, Panji Kaonga from Fabulr Studios collected surplus mustard chairs from One Portal Way, North Acton (AKA Old Oak). By 9am, they were already in use at Scale Space, part of the White City Innovation District. A small but powerful example of circular economy thinking and a reminder of how close we are to our friends at White City. These everyday exchanges build bridges between hubs, between people and across WestTech London’s growing innovation community. Sustainability in Labs: Learning with I2SL We joined the I2SL General Meeting and Summer Party, co-hosted by Pioneer Group and Oxford Properties, for a first look at the transformation of Victoria House in The Knowledge Quarter. The standout feature was air handling units suspended on bridges, with visible ducts threading through Grade II listed architecture. A striking blend of heritage and modern lab design. Sensibly Sustainable #1 : Reuse First Our reuse-first approach is gaining traction. From sinks to chairs to whiteboards, we are re-homing and reusing as much as we can. Given the success of our approach and the feedback we re getting, we’ve launched the first blog in our Sensibly Sustainable series 👉 Read #1: Reuse First here Let us know what you think and share ideas we could pilot next! LEAP Incubator Opens: Optimism in Action LEAP, the new incubator at ARC in Hammersmith powered by Imperial Incubator, is now open. It’s an ode to optimism with inviting design, a roof terrace and access to world-class facilities. A single bench at LEAP connects scientists to a mighty network, and with the LEAP Pass two lucky startups could get it for free, for a year! Apply now. In just a few months, we’ll open our own hub at One Portal Way, with Imperial Incubator , and we can’t wait to link tightly with this network of innovators. Onsite On Tuesdays.. Strategy moves into execution at One Portal Way. We’re building a space that works hard for our future tenants and we’re thrilled by the interest we are getting. Want a tour? We’re usually onsite on Tuesdays, and have plenty of hard tops to share! Just ask Charlie, Cat or Zara to show you around the building and the area.

19 Mar 2025 Sciopolis appointed as Development Advisor by The Crown Estate Sciopolis has been appointed by The Crown Estate to explore opportunities for new start-up, lab, amenity and events space at Cambridge Business Park, North Cambridge. This will form part of the transformation of Cambridge Business Park to become a gateway to a broader innovation district in the area, combining local social impact with national, mission-led innovation. Sciopolis is now working with The Crown Estate to conduct feasibility studies to reposition existing buildings as an Innovation Hub. This could provide space for early-stage businesses, researchers, academics, industry partners and the wider community to locate and collaborate. Together, the organisations will explore how this Innovation Hub might contribute to the local area, and how they can support growing science and technology sectors, such as Cleantech. Sciopolis was appointed as a Development Adviser for this phase of the project based on its extensive experience in developing innovation hubs and for its focus on establishing effective ecosystems to help tenants scale and grow. The company partners with landlords, universities and local government to either convert existing sites or create new ones. Its mission is to build a network of such hubs across strategic locations in the country, providing much-needed infrastructure to help drive the Government’s Science Superpower mission. Sciopolis is expected to support the development of the site and to operate it, as well as initiate ecosystem-building activities at Cambridge Business Park. Mark Sanders, Chairman of Sciopolis, said: “We are proud to be advising The Crown Estate on creating not just a building, but the start of a long-lasting ecosystem. Working for a purpose driven organisation with a long-term focus is a great privilege and we know that this work has particular significance in The Crown Estate’s ambitious vision for Cambridge Business Park.” Charlie Mitchell, CEO of Sciopolis, added: “We never start from the building; we start from understanding what science and technology innovators need, and build for them. Cambridge has no shortage of talent and ideas, and the city is on the ramp up to boost innovation, so it needs infrastructure to match. This means more labs and more space to converge great minds through open design, thoughtful amenities and a relentless focus on collaboration. Cambridge Business Park is the ideal place for a new hub, and we are laying the groundwork for it to become a success story.” Click here to see the proposal under consultation

9 Sept 2025 Scaling Stories: prioritising location for a successful growth strategy Choose a location with room to grow Hiring great people is crucial, especially at the early stages. You need adaptable, high-energy people who thrive in ambiguity. Being in a location that attracts that kind of talent gives you an edge. Keeping those people is as much about location as it is about everything else. You have to ask yourself, is there room to expand here so we don’t have to risk losing good people if we are forced to relocate? Design spaces that spark creativity The physical experience matters too. If you’re asking people to come into an office, it needs to be more than a desk in a room. You need spaces that encourage conversation, spark ideas and make people feel proud to work there. Ensure you create a dynamic environment that encourages networking It’s not just about your square footage; it’s about your surroundings. Being near other entrepreneurs creates an environment of informal support. You can swap insights without judgement. Being in a great location that offers opportunities for collaboration, means you share that scaling journey with other people you can trust and whose ideas you can bounce off. That also goes some way to combating the loneliness that comes with being a founder. Be aware of how your surroundings impact morale and performance Surrounding yourself with the best people and giving them the autonomy to thrive is key. If your office environment is cramped, uninspiring or isolating, you’re giving people reasons to stay at home. If it’s energising, connected and well-designed, you make it a place people want to be. Is it a place you are inspired to work from? And does the space encourage collaboration and innovation? If the answer to those is yes, you’re setting yourself up for better growth and maybe avoiding the day when you have to replace yourself sooner than you’d like. Are you a founder or innovator building a science or technology venture? Ready to find the right space to support your growth? Sciopolis has the space for you. 👉 Explore our locations here .

16 Apr 2025 Cleantech solutions for Real Estate? We want to hear from you Cleantech solutions can reduce the carbon impact of our buildings and provide a better environment for our future tenants. Because we are genuine champions of innovation, sustainability and the circular economy, and we like to support early stage innovative companies, we have been talking to a number of such clever companies over the last 18 months, figuring out whether and how we could implement some of their ideas across our future sites (note: we are currently working on projects in Cambridge and London). This has culminated in us launching the Sciopolis Cleantech Commission, which brings together innovative companies in this space who are keen for their technologies to have the opportunity to feature in future buildings we develop. Here are a small selection of the companies we have been talking to. Over a year ago, we visited Blast Studio, based at The Republic of Park Royal (Old Oak) who transforms coffee cup waste into a durable, fire-resistant material. By repurposing 80% discarded coffee cups with 20% natural binder, they create a fully recyclable material which can be used to create versatile and durable panels - perfect for wall paneling, cladding, and furniture making- as well as original and sturdy furniture pieces, like their signature lampshade. More recently, we have been talking to BioTwin, who create high-performance, sustainable construction solutions. Their hemp-based BioStuds are a “steel stud alternatives” with a 28% lower carbon footprint than standard steel studs. By switching to BioStuds, developers can meet new carbon regulations, cut embodied emissions, and future-proof their buildings with next-gen sustainable materials. We’ve also been exploring sound insulating panels in carbon negative material with Carbon Cell. On a mission to replace plastic foam, this clever company has created a lightweight, strong, insulative foam made of biochar, that acts as a carbon sink, sequestering carbon for thousands of years, making it a carbon-negative solution. Claire Trant at Untap Health has developed an innovative technology that analyses wastewater to detect the presence of pathogens in real-time, allowing them to identify potential health threats (in an office, for instance) before symptoms appear in individuals. This allows building management to implement small actions to prevent transmission including increased ventilation, seating arrangements, surface cleaning, and handwashing campaigns. This is just a small subset of the companies we are in touch with, whose solutions we are considering implementing across our sites. The idea will be to develop pilot implementations in our building of some of these new technologies, which can then be used as showcases to a wider audience, as part of our tenant engagement programme. The Sciopolis Cleantech Commission or open for companies to nominate themselves and we are particularly interested in construction materials, energy solutions and circular economy products. if you have a product or solution that you would like to discuss with us please get in touch at info@sciopolis.co.uk

25 Mar 2025 UK Life Sciences miss out on £15bn to global rivals By Mark Sanders, Chairman of Sciopolis UK Life Sciences are missing out on billions to global rivals: isn’t it time to act before it’s too late? The SCI report yesterday highlighted a competitiveness gap costing us £15 billion annually. Despite being identified as a key sector for economic growth, the UK is falling behind international rivals. Key findings from the report were: - The UK has dropped from the second to eighth place in global life sciences FDI - Clinical trials initiated in the UK have decreased by 8% since 2017/18. - Employment in life sciences has remained flat in the UK while growing by 20% in Europe. - The UK’s share of global pharmaceutical exports has dropped from 5.4% in 2018 to 3.8% in 2023. These findings are not encouraging and even less so in the context of the ambition for the UK to be a Science Superpower. My perspective is that we need to not only focus on the desired outcomes, but also the process and infrastructure to get us there. One positive way to react to this crisis would be for the government to focus on physical infrastructure that can retain and support innovators in the UK. Innovation Hubs similar to what Imperial has built at White City Innovation District - well connected, with density of researchers and industry, supported by the local authority as well as by a top university- increase the chances for innovators to attract investment, develop their ideas and make it through their commercialisation journey We need to quickly refocus on the needs of innovators and build places for them to come together, and robust networks that help them to connect the dots. This, of course, is in addition to the other measures suggested by the report, i.e. tailored incentives, streamlined regulatory processes etc. We can celebrate the UK at the forefront of life sciences invention, but we need to better sustain innovation through the other tricky phases too- including scaling and manufacturing. The risk of not doing it may mean losing the battle to other ecosystems that can cater for the entire journey. Read the full article here