Cardiff Innovations

ABOUT

Cardiff Innovations is a purpose-built, collaborative workspace at the heart of Cardiff University’s £300 million Innovation Campus. Designed to support early-stage businesses, scale-ups, university spinouts, and industry-academic partnerships, it offers flexible space and dedicated support to help organisations innovate, connect and grow.

Comprising 22,000 square feet of dedicated space spread across 3 floors, Cardiff Innovations is equipped with lettable office space from 226 square feet to 1163 square feet, formal and informal meeting areas, high-end conference facilities, 4,240 square feet of wet lab space and joint exhibition/presentation areas including conference space for up to 100 people.

Services

Cardiff Innovations offers flexible workspaces, essential support, and opportunities to connect. Our purpose-built spaces in sbarc|spark provide everything from hot-desking and meeting rooms to high-spec wet labs. Cardiff Innovations provides:

• Fully serviced offices (226–1,163 square feet)
• Co-working and hot-desking space (4,800 square feet)
• Wet labs with fume cupboards (4,240 square feet)
• Co-working space for student and graduate entrepreneurs
• High-spec formal and informal meeting rooms
• Event space accommodating up to 100 attendees
• Collaboration zones, breakout areas, kitchenettes and onsite Café
• High-speed broadband via external provider
• Central and Cardiff Innovations reception services
• Preferential access to university services and facilities
• Connections to wider university experts and trusted professional advisors

The sbarc|spark building is a holistic community of academics, businesses, public sector, third sector, and student entrepreneurs. It is also home to SPARK, the world’s first Social Science Research Park, bringing together over 15 research centres and more than 15 partner organisations to tackle major societal challenges — from climate change and social care to the future of the economy and digital transformation.

The Cardiff Innovations team works closely with colleagues across the University to ensure tenants are fully supported and connected.

From accessing academic expertise through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) to recruiting talented students for short-term placements via the Work Experience Team, we collaborate with Cardiff University’s Business Engagement and Partnerships team to link tenants with the right people, programmes and opportunities across the university, to help their businesses thrive.

Events and networking opportunities

At Cardiff Innovations, we actively support the growth of businesses through a variety of events, networking opportunities, and industry connections. We host events that encourage networking and foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and business development.

Cardiff Innovations tenants become members of the Cardiff University Innovation Network (CUIN) — a bridge between academia and industry, unlocking the potential of ideas through vibrant collaborations. Members are invited to free events throughout the year on innovation, enterprise and entrepreneurship.

Cardiff University is also a member of SETsquared, an inspiring enterprise partnership between six leading research-led UK universities: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey. As part of the partnership, Cardiff Innovations tenants can exclusively apply to participate in annual investor and corporate engagement events organised by SETsquared.