The University of the West of England (UWE) has unveiled a first-class enterprise and innovation facility called Future Works – a 4,100 square metre innovation centre which sits at the core of the University’s Enterprise Zone, one of the first University Enterprise Zones in the UK.
“Future Works will provide access to facilities and expertise that would otherwise be out of reach for new and growing businesses”
Joining other incubators in the zone, such as the extremely successful Bristol Robotics Lab, Future Zone will promote university-business collaboration alongside access to specialist facilities, expertise and business support for companies specialising in robotics, life sciences, medical health and other high tech sectors.
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Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Business Engagement at UWE, Professor Martin Boddy, who led the project for the University, says: “This will be much more than just a building. It will provide access to the sorts of facilities and expertise that would otherwise be out of reach for new and growing businesses.
“It will provide ‘wet labs’ – currently a real gap in the market, it will promote collaboration and networking between businesses, university researchers, students and graduates and there will be dedicated business support and services from the University, Bristol Business School and partner organisations.
“It will complement Bristol and Bath Science Park, the LEP Enterprise Zone and Enterprise Areas and the Engine Shed Incubation Centre at Temple Quay and Bath Innovation Centre – together these provide a fantastically rich and fertile ecosystem to support business growth and innovation across the whole city-region.”
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Innovation network
Oxford Innovation, who already run the largest network of innovation centres with over 900 occupiers across the UK, has been selected to manage the Future Works innovation centre.
“We expect Future Works will soon build a regional, national and international reputation for growing companies in our core sectors”
Chris Allington, Oxford Innovation’s Managing Director, tells us: “We have huge ambition for Future Works. Its proximity to some of the best incubators in the country, the uniqueness of the managed lab space, and its location on UWE Bristol’s campus are just some of the ingredients that make this a rather special place.”
“Future Works opens its doors in mid-August and we have already seen a strong level of demand from the local market. We expect Future Works will soon build a regional, national and international reputation for growing companies in our core sectors and we would encourage any local businesses to come to see what is on offer.”
For more information and to enquire about the facilities and support on offer, visit http://info.futureworksbristol.co.uk or call 0117 428 0200.
Image credit: UWE Bristol
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