News / Tech
Expansion for innovation and tech businesses workspace
Future Space, an innovation centre for high-end science and tech businesses, has opened its doors to 10,000sq ft of brand-new office and laboratory facilities in Bristol.
Future Space, located on the Frenchay campus of UWE Bristol, won the ‘Supporting the Sector Award’ at the most recent Tech South West Awards.
Based in the University Enterprise Zone (UEZ) at Frenchay, the centre provides a home for high-tech health, engineering, creative technology and green tech businesses benefitting from a unique university-partnered pathway to innovation.
Future Space has welcomed a host of new innovators and entrepreneurs through its doors last year leading up to the expansion of lab and workshop space in 2024.
Future Space is a home for high-tech health, engineering, creative technology and green tech businesses benefitting from a unique university-partnered pathway to innovation
Seven new labs and 12 new offices will offer space for up to 130 new people – increasing the centre’s capacity to support up to 70 businesses and bringing new jobs and opportunities to Bristol.
It is estimated that an extra £1m gross value added (GVA) could be generated a year as a result of the expansion at Future Space, which is already estimated to contribute around £2.5m to the city’s economy every year.
New facilities are also on offer for the 50 businesses already located at the UEZ, as a facelift of its main networking areas are on the horizon – including a new-look reception area, event space, hot-desking and café area.
The expansion means more room to grow for Future Space businesses such as Albotherm which is developing an innovative carbon-saving coating for commercial greenhouses and has expanded from three to seven people since taking a shared lab in 2021.
They will be moving into their own dedicated lab within the centre’s new facility this summer.
“This gives us the best of both worlds as we can grow while having access to shared facilities,” said Albotherm chief executive Molly Allington.
Future Space members benefit from established business support led by Oxford Innovation Space as well as from a newly launched university-partnered research and development pathway working alongside academics, students and facilities based across UWE Bristol, as well as from leading research centres co-located in the UEZ.
“You can meet up with people from all over the University of the West of England,” said Neciah Dorh, chief executive officer at FluoretIQ, “connecting with the Health Tech Hub and Bristol Robotics Lab – we are working with both, and they have been invaluable to us.”
Professor Matt Freeman, centre director at Future Space, added: “This expansion demonstrates our commitment to providing top-notch facilities for our thriving community of high-tech businesses inspired to work at the forefront of their sector.
“All new businesses will get access to our award-winning innovation support, including our new university-partnered approach to R&D and business support, allowing them to thrive in partnership with UWE Bristol, one of the region’s leading universities.”
“This expansion demonstrates our commitment to providing top-notch facilities for our thriving community of high-tech businesses,” said professor Martin Freeman, centre director at Future Space
All photos: UWE Bristol
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