Bristol is to get much-needed high-end laboratory space and support facilities to encourage cutting-edge science and tech start-ups – allowing the city to effectively compete for the first time against centres such as Oxford and Cambridge.
Construction has started on the lab space and science incubator – called Unit DX - on a site in St Philips.
Backed by SETsquared, the global No.1 university-led business incubator, it will build on the strong innovation in the tech, digital and creative sectors already carried out in the city through centres such as Engine Shed and Watershed.
Unit DX will feature 10,000 sq ft of laboratory space and another 5,000 sq ft of office facilities to support leading-edge technologies.
It will also provide access to mentoring and business support, as well as links to investors and industry networks through its partnerships.
It will bring much needed facilities and support to the growing number of entrepreneurs in the city, adding a new scientific dimension to the already thriving Bristol tech scene. O
f the 183,000 life sciences jobs in the UK, over half of these are located in the ‘golden triangle’ of London, Cambridge and Oxford. Unit DX will help to ‘translate’ Bristol’s scientific research into commercial business opportunities.
SETsquared Bristol Centre Director Monika Radclyffe said: “I am very excited that SETsquared will be working with Unit DX to increase access to laboratory space and to provide tailored support for scientific enterprise. We look forward to supporting innovative technologies in the life sciences sector and help Unit DX companies scale their businesses with our proven incubation model.”
Nishan Canagarajah, Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of Bristol, said: “We are very pleased to be working with Unit DX to augment Bristol’s scientific facilities which will significantly enhance the city’s attractiveness as a location for start-ups and spin-outs.”
Unit DX is also working in partnership with Invest Bristol and Bath (IBB). Rick Chapman, High Tech Sector Specialist at IBB said: “We’re delighted to be supporting Unit DX as this incubator space will be a great asset to the city, further strengthening our position as a leading destination not only for the tech community, but also the scientific community.
“We’ve been linking them into our networks and connecting them to key stakeholders to support the venture and will continue to work with them as they become a key partner for our soft landing of new investors to the region.”
Pictured: Nick Adkins, contracts manager at JCA; Dr Harry Destecroix, Unit DX director, and Monika Radclyffe, SETsquared , centre director
