The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) has launched a pioneering start-up to build on its successful network of British Business Incubation Centers (BICs) as part of a recent £2 million drive to empower small businesses and stimulate the UK economy. We are planning to welcome 28 companies.
Image provided by: STFC
These companies join one of the UK's most successful networks of business incubators, enabling them to bring new innovations to market faster and succeed in global markets.
Science Secretary Vallance said: “New problem-solving products are created every day by innovators across the UK, but the hurdles for start-ups to scale up into successful businesses remain high, from funding to access to facilities. It's often too much.” .
advertisement
“Business Incubation Centers provide these vital resources and this new investment continues our work to support science and technology to grow the UK economy.”
Paul Vernon, Executive Director of Business Innovation at STFC, said: “STFC is proud to partner with UK start-ups with innovative ideas that have the potential to shape our future, from faster breast cancer diagnosis to hydro-powered satellites. We are deeply committed to their development.”
“These startups are using science and technology to solve problems that matter to us all, like better, more affordable health care and protecting our planet for future generations. But the path from a bold idea to business success is never easy.
“In line with the government’s mission to foster economic growth, STFC’s successful business incubation program provides an environment where companies can overcome industry and business challenges and achieve world-changing success.”
STFC’s BIC network delivered an economic impact of £78m to the UK economy in 2024 alone. Since our founding in 2011, we have donated over £350m and helped over 150 businesses grow.
Each company is based within one of STFC's five BICs. They work with industry-leading partners focused on specific areas.
The five BICs are:
Space (ESA BIC UK), in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), the UK Space Agency and the University of Leicester Biotechnology (Bio BIC), in collaboration with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, will develop digital and artificial intelligence (AI) (Digital BIC), STFC's Hartley Center for Quantum Computing (QuBIC) and the National Quantum Computing Center Health BIC, Liverpool City Combined Authority, Medical Research Council and the Drug Discovery Catapult.
In addition to funding, participating companies will have access to resources typically inaccessible to startups, including world-leading research facilities, expertise, and intellectual property, enabling them to overcome industry challenges.
This enables us to accelerate the development of exciting new products that benefit our lives and the world we live in, achieving commercial success and creating high-value jobs.
Across the BIC, each startup benefits from bespoke business coaching and access to STFC's specialized industry clusters at BIC locations across the country.
Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire School of Science and Technology Daresbury, Royal Observatory of Liverpool City Region, Edinburgh Space Park, University of Leicester
Furthermore, half of the businesses supported are based outside London and in the South East, highlighting how BIC supports start-ups from all parts of the UK.
List of new startups participating in BIC:
ESA BIC UK: Location: Harwell Campus, Royal Observatory Edinburgh, Space Park Leicester
route zero
RouteZero is a climate change technology company that decarbonizes business travel through innovative digital tools that reduce corporate emissions by 26% while balancing travel time and budgets.
wallet systems
Saif Systems develops software that helps satellite operators ensure that autonomous systems, such as refueling and moving satellites out of orbit, are operating safely.
Applied Atomics
Applied Atomics is building a composite propulsion system that uses water as a propellant to move satellites to different orbits and maintain them stationed.
aspir space
By combining proprietary AI, ground truth data, and expertise, Aspia Space transforms the planet's complex data into actionable insights and enables informed decision-making across sectors.
ocean leisure
Ocean Ledger provides coastal real estate developers and planners with environmental impact assessments using analysis of Earth observation imagery.
journey protector
Journey Protector uses precise GPS and GNSS data and sensors to monitor shipping containers to:
Prevent cargo tampering and problems during transportation
Enable faster movement through ports
Voyant innovation
Voyant Innovations provides predictive models of where space debris will be, helping satellite operators avoid collisions and reduce insurance costs.
gyro plant
Gyroplants provide a reusable, space-friendly substrate for growing food not only for vertical farming on Earth, but also for manned space missions.
meta futura aerospace
Meta Futura Aerospace develops the space industry's most maneuverable and agile satellites, maximizing today's missions and enabling the future of space technology.
advertisement
seasat
SEA SAT monitors the health of coastal oceans for fishing and other aquaculture companies using specialized analysis of Earth observation images that look beneath the surface.
sense fish
SensFish provides near real-time images and maps of the ocean area to help monitor fishing vessel activity.
Aegion Aerospace
Aegion Aerospace manufactures high-performance metal alloys for use in extreme environments such as rocket engines.
Bio BIC: Location: Daresbury Laboratory
signature bioscience
Signatur Biosciences makes highly accurate diagnostics available, starting with decentralizing breast cancer prognosis to shorten diagnosis time for patients and reduce costs for hospitals.
biotrip
BioTryp is developing new treatments for bacterial infections (starting with urinary tract infections) that increase the effectiveness of antibiotics and reduce recurrence by preventing biofilms.
fermtech
Fermtech produces Koji Protein, an ultra-sustainable protein material.
Moreau (Nihiro Food Systems)
Morrow creates bean-free coffee for coffee shops, food manufacturing and the home using natural, sustainable and upcycled ingredients that replicate the flavor and aroma of coffee.
cresco biotech
Cresco Biotech produces low-carbon panel materials for the construction industry to replace materials such as gypsum board in green construction projects.
cubic
Location: Harwell Campus
Trequeue
TreQ builds and operates open architecture quantum computing clusters that can be upgraded and expanded to improve capital efficiency and technology resiliency.
Quantopticon
Quantopticon provides photonic quantum simulation and design software for photonic, optical quantum computing, quantum networking, and quantum sensing components. It also reduces the time and cost of quantum technology research and development.
digital big
Location: Daresbury Science Institute, Daresbury Laboratory
Let's talk
Talk it Out is building a mental health app that uses AI to help people understand their subconscious thoughts and the emotions they create, reducing anxiety and burnout.
neatly
We successfully developed an app (Melo) for clinical teams caring for patients with complex behaviors due to neurological symptoms.
sense eye
SenseAI provides a way to use smart sampling and inpainting to reduce scan times and accelerate analysis of electron microscopy and other imaging.
Health BIC: Location: Daresbury Laboratory
Currant care
The Sensora platform provides caregivers with AI-powered non-invasive monitoring for real-time alerts and analytics, enabling data-driven and efficient care for elderly and disabled patients.
Laura by Leaf
Leaf AI brings conversational AI to care organizations and people and families affected by dementia, social isolation and loneliness.
BBL protect
BBL Protect manufactures personal isolation and transport devices for safely and efficiently transporting infected, contaminated, or immunocompromised patients in healthcare settings.
neurobate
Neurobate is developing treatments for central nervous system diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, that are effective at low doses and reduce side effects for patients.
apnia tech
Apnea-Tech builds low-cost, sustainable sleep apnea screening and diagnostic devices that speed diagnosis and reduce healthcare costs.
These 28 new incubators bring the total number of companies joining STFC BIC this year alone to 43.
Since the launch of ESA BIC UK in 2011, the program has supported over 130 space technology start-ups, creating over 1,000 highly skilled jobs and a total of over £225m of investment. Ta.
This same model has since been used as a blueprint for four other deeptech incubation centers, the latest being Health BIC, which launched in October 2024.
Childcare facilities overall deliver a 25x return on investment for UK taxpayers and have a 95% survival rate, well above the national average.
Will Gault, STFC's Business Incubation Program Director, works directly with each startup regarding participation in the BIC program. “Deep tech startups often face barriers to commercialization due to high costs and technical challenges. By providing tailored support as needed, we are “We help bridge the gap between success and profitable business.”
“This is where cutting-edge science meets bold market potential for the benefit of society. We are thrilled to welcome these exciting new businesses to our BIC program and support them on their path to commercial success. I’m looking forward to it.”
advertisement
