Bristol-based innovation centre Future Space has reached full capacity after welcoming a number of new leading-edge companies in a further boost to the region’s fast-growth, tech and life sciences sectors.
The hub, which is managed by Oxford Innovation (OI) on behalf of the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), is now in its third year of operation and has continued to go from strength to strength since launching.
Perceptual Robotics, Absolute Robotics, Yantra Digital, Pulmo and SciFlair are the latest customers to join the Future Space community, bringing with them some exciting new activities to the centre.
Absolute Robotics works with businesses to optimise production processes using collaborative robots or ‘cobots’. The parent company Absolute Automation Group is already a well-established SME specialising in industrial automation across a range of sectors. The robotics business is a relatively new venture which has moved in to the innovation centre to make the most of working alongside other high-tech companies to expand their product applications.
Digital marketing agency and tech company Yantra Digital has taken up office space in Bristol in order to continue its development work in augmented and virtual reality.
Internationally recognised, award-winning companies Open Bionics, Reach Robotics and Homelync are just a few of the inspiring and rapidly growing start-ups for which Future Space has played a part in the journey in the past couple of years.
Future Space generated nearly £5 million for the regional economy between August 2017 and July 2018, and full third-year results – soon to be published – are expected to reveal even more impressive statistics.
Future Space centre director Martin Reid said: “The centre being at maximum capacity is certainly an indication of the exciting potential for collaboration, growth and innovation we are currently seeing in the Bristol tech and life sciences sectors.
“I’m thrilled to welcome these new residents and I can’t wait to learn more about the remarkable work they’re doing.
“We’re celebrating our third birthday this August and what better way to commemorate the occasion than with a full house!”
Martin Boddy, pro vice-chancellor of research and enterprise at UWE, said: “After just three years in operation, Future Space has achieved some incredible milestones, currently hosting 47 companies with about 270 staff. Importantly as well we are seeing ever-growing collaboration and joint working between Future Space businesses, university researchers, our students and recent graduates.
“This is testament to the growing importance and influence of the Bristol and Bath region within these sectors and we’re thrilled to be at the forefront of this with the UWE Bristol University Enterprise Zone and the innovation hub.”
Submitted on 29/08/2019
