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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.

25 Apr 2025 What can we learn from Dubai’s Innovation Hub? We are curious about how other countries approach Innovation Hubs and are interested in learning what can be re-applied here in the UK. As part of our ongoing learning, we will share examples of Innovation Hubs from both the UK and around the world whenever we come across them. The Dubai Innovation Hub, for instance, is a masterclass in developing an ecosystem that integrates work and life seamlessly. Located in the DIFC, we visited it on an early morning this week (hence the lack of humans in the photos), and learned the following. Convenience is King: from pharmacies to hot yoga and dermatology, members have every amenity imaginable on their doorstep, making their place of work blend with lifestyle choices. This is the opposite to many other science parks and buildings, where there is often very little amenity, poor transport connectivity, and hence they can become empty straight after work, as people go elsewhere to find the things they need. It’s important to remember that innovators are “people” and that they sometimes need to buy paracetamol. Prioritisation of social spaces: fine dining from Sexy Fish, and many more, is very close to the work areas, allowing members to quickly and easily unwind with colleagues or entertain clients. Socialising is ingrained in the ‘work culture’ of Dubai, with the ecosystem catering to this need with a variety of dining spots – critically at differing price points. Again, this needs to be an initial consideration in the design of Innovation Hubs rather than an afterthought. The convenience of working from home means that workplaces need to work harder than ever at attracting people through the promise of high-quality face to face interactions, attractive workplace design and great amenity. Entrance experience is key: a standout welcome creates an atmosphere that inspires and sets the tone for what is to come. From architecture (not all Receptions were designed equal …. some are there to attract people in, others to keep people out), to the choice of materials, to art and sound (often underplayed), and even scent. Seeing real people working and having meetings, being able to peek through a glass at an event that is taking place, openness and transparency all contribute to creating a place you want to be in. This subconsciously increases lingering time, and in turn creates opportunities to bump into others. Sustainability that Performs: the building’s credentials are proudly marked throughout the building, including a 24% saving in energy consumption from usage of high efficiency equipment and building envelope performance. Thank you to the team at DFIC Innovation Hub for showing us around! Find out more about @DFIC: https://www.innovationhub.difc.ae Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates

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

17 Sept 2025 #1 Reuse first Sensibly Sustainable #1 : Reuse First Reuse isn’t glamorous. It doesn’t sparkle like innovation and it doesn’t grab headlines. But it’s quietly powerful. At One Portal Way, the reuse story starts with the building itself. What was once a standard office block is now being transformed into an Innovation Hub—not through demolition, but through a meanwhile retrofit. That decision alone is a massive act of sustainability. It means working with the structure that’s already there, extending its life and avoiding the carbon cost of starting from scratch. And that mindset has shaped every decision inside the building too. The desks and furniture left behind weren’t brand new—but they were solid, well-made, and full of potential. It would’ve been easy to start fresh. Order new. Throw the old in the skip and send it away. But we didn’t. Instead, we asked ourselves can we use what’s in front of us? And if not us (there were LOTS of chairs and desks), who else can use it? This approach takes time. Reuse isn’t the quick option. It means thinking about who might need something, reaching out, teeing it up, making yourself available. It means storing things carefully, coordinating repairs and trusting that the effort is worth it. You have to want it. Many of the desks that we already had are now being stored safely while the space is reimagined, and they’ll be repaired and adjusted with some help from the brilliant team at Sagal —ready to return in June 2026, refreshed and fit for purpose. Other things that were left behind in the building have found new homes. Planters and garden chairs have gone to our friends at Republic of Park Royal, on Minerva Road, with lots of other bits and pieces. A giant screen, once the centrepiece of a Microsoft Teams-enabled meeting room and now made unusable by technology obsolescence ( Charlie covered it in a post here ) , was carried (by hand!) by Johnny Brewin to the Foundry bar, where it now lives on in its second act. And, in a slightly more unexpected twist, one of our sinks has been claimed by the Imperial College facilities team, and it’s now going to be used in one of their kitchens. Sometimes reuse is practical. Sometimes it’s poetic. Sometimes it’s just a bit random. But always, it’s rooted in care. At Sciopolis, we believe sustainability starts with common sense. Not what’s trendy, not always the shiny new ball, but what’s necessary. And right now, what’s necessary is a shift from novelty to longevity. So next time you’re planning a space, a project ( or even a meal!) ask yourself: what can I reuse and repurpose? You might find the answer is already in front of you. Interested in updates like this? Follow us on LinkedIn and sign up to our Monthly Newsletter

23 May 2025 University spinouts are struggling, and here's why. The UK government has been clear: Universities are crucial for scientific innovation. Academics are expected to commercialise their research through spinouts, turning ideas into companies that solve real-world problems. But while the expectation is high, the support is lacking. Spinouts need money to get off the ground. The Government’s £40m proof-of-concept fund was supposed to help, but demand has been overwhelming. According to an article this week by City AM, the first £9m round had 2,750 applicants—far more than the funding could handle. That means thousands of potential startups may never make it past the first hurdle. But even when spinouts do secure funding, there’s another issue: where do they go next? Kate Carlisle from Royal Society of Chemistry presented the spinouts ideal journey at London Lab Live Early-stage science companies need space, flexible labs and business support to grow into something real. They also need for these resources and facilities to be well integrated into their development journey, as “upping sticks” to find affordable lab space elsewhere, when it’s not provided close to their university ecosystem, can sever precious links and lose specialised expertise that has taken time and effort to build, When spinouts exceed incubators capacity and don't find suitable lab space in their ecosystem, they are forced to move elsewhere, which breaks their flow. That’s where Sciopolis' scaling hubs approach and campaigns like # MoreChemLabs spearheaded by the Royal Society of Chemistry come in. Having access to affordable, well-equipped labs and facilities near universities, with supportive ecosystems and room to grow can make the difference between success and failure for university spinouts. Kate Carlisle from the Royal Society of Chemistry made the argument well in her presentation at the London Lab Live event last week (see slide below) and we couldn’t agree more: think ecosystem, not just infrastructure. If the UK wants to stay ahead in scientific innovation and be a catalyst for companies that will change the world, it must do more than just encourage spinouts—it must support them properly, with funding, space, and partnerships. Spinouts need more affordable, ready-to-occupy, university-adjacent labs they can move into after leaving incubators. This allows them to stay rooted in the ecosystems that nurtured them, avoiding disruptive and costly relocations. Otherwise, we risk losing out on world-changing discoveries before they even get started. Click here for more blogs Follow us on LinkedIn

28 Nov 2025 London Spinouts: we are building space for you Spinouts continue to grow as a mighty Asset Class This month, spinouts have been everywhere , cropping up in reports, events, and the press. No longer niche curiosities tucked away in university corridors, spinouts are emerging as a distinct asset class, blending academic credibility with commercial scalability. Investors are beginning to treat spinouts not just as startups, but as a new category of investment, one that blends science, capital, and resilience. Across London, Europe, and beyond, spinouts are reshaping how we think about innovation and economic value creation. Three reports released in November underline the growing strength of UK spinouts: London’s Life Sciences: spinouts at the core The MedCity Life Sciences Companies to Watch 2025 Report, released at London's Life Sciences Week, revealed a striking fact: 56% of the highlighted companies are spinouts . This isn’t just a statistic, it’s a signal that Universities are proving to be fertile ground for commercial breakthroughs, particularly in life sciences, and spinouts are also a dominant share of London’s innovation pipeline. Additionally: 56% are spinouts : a dominant share of London’s innovation pipeline. The Knowledge Quarter & White City are where the majority are based Commercial traction : spinouts are attracting capital faster than traditional startups. Spinouts are not just participating in London’s Life Sciences ecosystem; they are defining it. Deep Tech 2025: spinouts as a superpower The Dealroom Deep Tech Report 2025 , in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering, dedicates an entire chapter to spinouts, and makes some striking points. Spinouts are not just numerous, they’re disproportionately valuable. While they account for 34% of deep tech startups, they represent 37% of total enterprise value, punching above their weight in terms of economic impact. Additionally: They make up 43% of the startups that raised $10 million+ funding . Photonics (64% spinouts) and Quantum (58% spinouts) are the deep tech sectors with the strongest academic ties.. Switzerland & UK dominate Europe’s spinout ranking The Dealroom European Spinouts Report 2025 reveals staggering numbers: deep tech and life sciences spinouts across Europe are valued at $398 billion , creating over 167,000 jobs . Additionally: UK universities (Oxford and Cambridge) claim the two top spots with three others in the top ten (UCL, Imperial and University of Bristol). Switzerland has three locations in the top 10. Value creation by spinouts is accelerating The UK leads for spinout value creation , followed by Germany, Switzerland and France Sciopolis: building the workspace London spinouts need At Sciopolis, we believe spinouts deserve more than recognition, they need space to scale and develop their ideas. That’s why we are building cost‑effective, ready‑to‑occupy lab and office spaces in London at One Portal Way, in partnership with Imperial - and soon in other locations. But this isn’t just about (or for) Imperial spinouts. We want the best biotech, quantum, cleantech, AI spinouts from across London’s universities — UCL, King’s, Queen Mary, Brunel and beyond — to come together in our hubs. By clustering talent, ideas, and capital in shared spaces, we are going to create an environment where spinouts can collaborate, accelerate and ultimately scale. Now is the time to act. If you’re building a spinout, or supporting one, or want to invest in the next cohort of exciting spinouts - join us at One Portal Way - opening in June 2026 Get in touch to bring your venture into our hub, collaborate with London’s brightest minds, and help shape the future of innovation under one roof.

16 July 2025 UK startups: brilliant at the baby stage, but what about adolescence? Today’s Life Sciences Sector Plan from the UK government is a bold step toward scaling innovation and transforming the NHS. We’ve long been world-class at nurturing early-stage science: these “babies” emerge in great numbers from our top universities—clever, dynamic spinouts that institutions are producing in ever greater and more refined numbers. But the real challenge, every parent will know, comes with adolescence. Once the highly nurtured babies are out of the incubator, where everything was provided, the growing teenagers now need more independence. They want to close the door, stop sharing, protect and build their ideas. But they still need support—plenty of it. This is where the UK’s growth opportunity lies: helping these ventures mature into impactful companies. You don’t jump straight from primary school (university incubator) to university (lab-enabled FRI leases with long commitments in great but expensive buildings). At Sciopolis, we specialise in that critical adolescent phase of startup growth. Our spaces are designed not just for ideation, but for assisted acceleration , where startups evolve into sector-shaping companies. They’re open, ready-to-occupy, cost-effective and deeply connected to universities and collaborative institutions. Crucially, they come with links to business-building contacts that help science companies not just build their R&D, but—concurrently—learn to build a business. We want to build more of these spaces, and fast. To hit the leading life sciences economy in Europe by 2030 target set by this plan, we can’t rely on new builds alone. We need to refurbish and rapidly activate existing spaces. This is a race we could easily lose to lengthy planning and lofty ambitions. The spaces we need exist today—we just need to make them science-ready, fast. Two more things we’re excited about in the Government Plan: 🔍 The commitment to unlocking NHS data. With up to £600M invested in building a world-leading health data system, the potential for breakthroughs in diagnostics and treatment is immense. We’ve heard it time and again at conferences: the UK’s uniquely unified health system offers a data advantage few countries can match. Yet we’ve struggled to turn that potential into tangible progress. One thing that gives us hope is watching Imperial’s new Schools of Convergence Science bring together health, tech, and AI to drive this transformation. No better place for convergence. 🏭 The renewed focus on manufacturing. In today’s volatile geopolitical environment, no country can rely solely on traditional friendships. The global trend is clear: rebuild and reshore supply chains. The UK has a real opportunity to lead here—by enabling science-based companies to scale not just their ideas, but their production, close to home. The UK has the science. It has the talent. Now it needs the infrastructure and urgency to match. Let’s not just aim to be first in Europe by 2030, let’s build like we mean it. Find out more about how Sciopolis supports the Government’s Vision Read the Government Life Sciences Sector Plan 2025

18 May 2023 British Land To Turbocharge Massive Life Sciences and Innovation Drive

5 Nov 2025 Monthly Update Capital alone doesn’t scale Innovation: infrastructure does October brought fresh insights into the UK’s innovation landscape, with the Beauhurst x Parkwalk Advisors Spinout Report 2025 highlighting strong investor confidence in university-led innovation. We are delighted, if somewhat unsurprised, to see the investment market improving. However, capital alone doesn’t scale innovation. Without the right infrastructure, spinouts risk burning through funding on workspace fit-outs in disconnected locations, slowing progress instead of accelerating it. At Sciopolis, we’re working to create that infrastructure every day. Here’s how we did it this month: We deepened Lab supplier relationships at the Lab Innovations event in Birmingham, seeking collaborators, not just vendors, who understand that value goes beyond equipment.. Read more here We explored the future of labs at the Royal Society of Chemistry’s #MoreChemLabs workshop , asking what minimum viable labs look like, and who’s ready to build them. We joined the Innovate Cambridge Summit , where the message was: ideas need capital, but ecosystems need infrastructure. Cambridge is the second most invested innovation hotspot in the world and we need to spread its power to other clusters – like Manchester for example, which we visited this week We stood on the balcony at Old Oak Common , witnessing the scale of HS2 and its potential to supercharge connectivity for our future tenants at #OnePortalWay . We believe you don’t have to build everything everywhere: it’s smarter to connect the dots. We shared our reuse-first approach in our Sensibly Sustainable blog , showing how hyperlocal circularity can be embedded into innovation spaces: simple in theory, harder in practice We celebrated community-led placemaking at North Acton Square where artists and makers are already thriving, and scientists will soon join them at #OnePortalWay . We advanced the AI conversation , from Italian Tech Week to the Ealing AI Conference, exploring what AI infrastructure our tenants will need, which sectors are emerging (is robotics about to have its “ChatGPT moment ” ?) and how we should respond - with excitement, caution.. or both? One Portal Way: as we progress our new innovation hub in North Acton , we’re spending equal time on construction (things going well. Opening in June 2026!) and on building the network and service infrastructure for our tenants that can make a material difference to their scaling. Fancy popping in? If you ever fancy a tour or a nose around, we’re onsite every Tuesday, just get in touch. We have had fantastic feedback to our tours: once you see the scale of what is being built in the area and the innovation potential, the penny really drops. We look forward to seeing you there!

11 Nov 2024 The Crown Estate to breathe new life into Cambridge Business Park

9 Apr 2025 Record £13.9 billion of R&D funding unveiled to boost innovation In the thick of all of the economic turmoil, it is welcome news that the Government is committed to supporting research and innovation with the announcement of the allocation of the £13.9 billion Department of Science, Innovation and Technology research and development budget. A path to economic prosperity, better employment prospects for all and the solving of major world challenges must surely be underpinned by research and innovation and taking away the barriers that prevent businesses being formed or that limit their growth and impact will benefit everyone. I’m delighted that funding is available for innovators and entrepreneurs. I hope this will inspire them to innovate and seize the opportunity to create businesses that realise the full potential of their ideas. I also hope that the planned investments will help to create the environment for business success by enabling the infrastructure to support innovators, including incubator and scaleup facilities. Scaleup businesses will surely benefit from access to capital, but by removing the barriers to commercialisation of cutting-edge research and by supporting their growth through appropriate infrastructure, we see the potential for a multiplier effect, where the funding will deliver quicker and better outcomes. Failure to invest in the supporting and enabling ecosystems for scaleup businesses will reduce the benefit of the proposed investment and will ultimately constrain the growth of new firms and the realisation of the benefits of their innovations, limiting their opportunity to be global market leaders of the future. Read the Government R&D Fund announcement here

17 Feb 2026 Not all labs Are "Chemistry Labs": but what is a chemistry lab? Over the last few months, thanks to the great work of the Royal Society of Chemistry and their #morechemlabs campaign, we’ve been digging deep into a surprisingly difficult question: what exactly does a chemistry founder need from a lab? Everyone talks about “lab space” for innovators, but almost no one talks about chemistry-ready lab space. And that distinction matters. Many of the “labs” marketed to early-stage founders simply aren’t suitable for real chemistry. They’re biology-optimised, infrastructure light and they rarely have externally vented extract to support a fume cupboard. They look like labs, but they often cannot safely support the workflows chemistry founders actually rely on. We’re trying to take a different approach. At One Portal Way in North Acton (Opening Summer 2026), we’re building 24 new labs intended to support a wide range of disciplines: biotech, cleantech, materials, chemistry and more. Every one of our labs includes an externally vented extraction duct from day one. This ducting is capable of supporting at least one 1500 mm externally vented fume cupboard. Not a benchtop accessory. Not a recirculating cabinet. A real chemistry fume cupboard, the bare minimum (we think! But please tell us otherwise) for anyone working with solvents, reagents, exothermic reactions or the everyday realities of synthetic chemistry. We’ve learned that this level of infrastructure is surprisingly rare . Many of the new commercial lab buildings and science coworking spaces simply weren’t built for it. Retrofitting is expensive. Duct runs are complex. Landlords don’t love the disruption. As a result, chemistry founders are pushed into spaces that look like labs but they often aren’t capable of supporting the work required to build real, defensible IP. We want to change that and remove the friction that slows early-stage innovators. As we’re finalising the buildout at One Portal Way, there’s still time to accommodate what chemistry founders consider essential : if you tell us what you need, we can hopefully factor it in. This means: no retrofitting costs, no extraction approvals, no “maybe in six months. If you’re a chemistry founder, please get in touch : tell us what “chemistry ready” means for you, so we can build it. Sciopolis - 1 Portal Way opens in June 2026 . (come have a look, we run tours every Tuesday)