A biotech company developing treatments for autoimmune diseases and a scientific consultancy are among the first businesses to take space in Bristol & Bath Science Park’s Innovation Centre, which opened last Monday.
Apitope, a company which focuses on the discovery and development of treatments for autoimmune and allergic diseases, and Formumetrics, a scientific consultancy that helps formulate new and improved products, are joined by BPE Solicitors, YFM Equity Partners and Science City Bristol in the centre.
Formumetrics managing director Dr Keith Bean said: “The Science Park will be a great place to work and do business.
“On the first morning we bumped into another tenant over coffee who happens to work with the same client base as us and, as a result, we have already found ways to work together in the future. We know our business will thrive here.
“We needed a workplace that would encourage interaction and ideas and provide us with an impressive shop window for our business. The Science Park will deliver all this and more.”
Apitope will be moving into the Innovation Centre next month.
Partner companies to the new neighbouring National Composites Centre are also beginning to move onto the site – resulting in an expanding scientific and business community.
Bristol & Bath Science Park chief executive Bonnie Dean said: “These first occupiers characterise the diverse and rich mix of companies and organisations that we intend to attract to the Science Park .”
YFM Equity Partners is a national venture capital company investing between £250,000 and £10m in equity finance in growing UK companies. It is moving from Bristol Business Park.
A significant number of the 250 companies in its portfolio are from the science and technology sector, many based in the South West. They include DNA diagnostics company Atlas Genetics, which raised £16.5m earlier this summer, and Gnodal, which has developed high-performance computer network equipment.
BPE Solicitors is a rapidly expanding law firm with offices in Cheltenham and London It has a national reputation for corporate finance, technology funding, intellectual property and commercial property work.
Science City Bristol is a not-for-profit company, which works to help make the Bristol and Bath region the best place to start and grow technology businesses.
The Science Park’s Innovation Centre is designed to provide companies with the space they need to grow on flexible terms. It includes serviced office space, conference facilities, high bandwidth and excellent communications.
