University of Wolverhampton Science Park tenants, Aptisens, is a team of scientists with expertise in biochemistry, software, electronics, and analytical chemistry. Their mission is to develop advanced products that solve real-world problems and improve the quality of life by applying cutting-edge science and technology to agriculture, biotechnology, and environmental monitoring. They have invented and commercialised specialised equipment, such as the world’s first phosphate electrode and NPK multi-ion probe, which enable precise measurement of nutrients in various solutions, including hydroponics – a method of agriculture that doesn’t need soil.
Since establishing its base at the University of Wolverhampton Science Park in 2014, Aptisens has recently expanded its operations by relocating to a larger laboratory within the park’s award-winning Science Centre. This expansion is driven by their growing team and a new research project with the National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP) and Innovate UK, which requires high-quality laboratory conditions. The configurable Category 1 & 2 laboratory space at the Science Park, equipped with specialist tools like a PCR thermocycler, scanning spectrophotometer, and microbial fermentation suite, has proven ideal for their needs.
Co-founder and CTO of Aptisens Ltd UK, Roy O’Mahony, highlights the benefits of their location at the Science Park:
“Situated in the Midlands with convenient access to the M6 and a short train ride to London, the Wolverhampton Science Park is perfect for our sensor production and research. Being surrounded by other innovative companies fosters an environment of continued growth and innovation.”
Roy emphasises the importance of maintaining strong relationships with global distributors and clients, contributing to Aptisens’ numerous accolades in environmental sustainability. In 2017, Roy received first prize in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Emerging Technologies Competition. In 2022, Aptisens was awarded the EU Horizon 2020 grant ECONUTRI as part of an EU-China consortium. Currently, they are in the second year of developing an innovative product using screen-printed chips capable of measuring six ions simultaneously.
In September 2023, Aptisens received an Innovate UK grant to develop an external soil version of their auto-analyser. This device, designed for outdoor use, measures ion uptake from the bioremediation crop Miscanthus to demonstrate its potential in preventing phosphate runoff and addressing river pollution. Additionally, Aptisens secured an Innovate UK/NATEP grant for a collaborative project with Dycotech UK and NATEP to develop an aptamer-based sensor for detecting aviation fuel contaminants. This cutting-edge technology uses a DNA sequence attached to gold chips to measure low levels of contaminants with high accuracy, enabling point-of-use measurement without lab analysis.
Amid global ecological challenges, access to innovative solutions and supportive R&D is crucial for environmental sustainability. The Science Park is proud to support Aptisens and looks forward to being part of their continued contributions to addressing environmental issues.
As the UK’s life sciences sector continues to grow, it can no longer be confined to a single geographical area such as the Golden Triangle; growth in Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham are testament to that. University of Wolverhampton Science Park is firmly supporting the sector too, along with advanced manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, construction, creative industries and their supply chains.
Situated at the heart of the UK, benefitting from one of the country’s most well-connected transport systems and a unique combination of high-quality offices, laboratories and workshops, the Science Park aims to improve regional and economic performance by attracting inward investment to the area to benefit from the unique combination of physical resources as well as access to the University of Wolverhampton’s world-leading research base, talented graduates and a range of business support services.
If you believe the workspace and support at our Science Park could provide the perfect location for your business – visit www.wolverhamptonsp.co.uk. You can also contact us at 01902 824 100 or email us at joinus@wolverhamptonsp.co.uk to find out more information or enquire about available workspace
