Seven new companies, based on scientific research carried out at the University, were established in 2017 and five have located themselves at Unit DX, based near Bristol Temple Meads railway station, which has been working closely with the University and its SETsquared incubator to help new businesses thrive.
The companies focus on a range of new technologies, from detecting methane gas leaks using drones to developing vaccine candidates for emerging infectious disease.
The University of Bristol and Unit DX were invited to Parliament by Thangam Debbonaire, Bristol West MP, to discuss the impact of their collaboration and how best to support the resulting Bristol science cluster.
One year after opening, Unit DX is home to 23 scientific and engineering companies which have created 70 jobs in the city centre. Seventeen of these have been founded by University of Bristol alumni.
Bristol alumnus Dr Harry Destecroix, Director of Unit DX and co-founder of University spin-out Ziylo, said: “We started with a mission to form a scientific ecosystem in Bristol, because without lab space and a community, it is really difficult to start science companies.
“This huge increase in the formation of new enterprises is the result of a lot of talented people coming together to help create and develop the Bristol science cluster.
“We have also benefitted from great timing: there has been increased focus from government on the commercialisation of research, along with a cultural shift amongst researchers, who now see the spin-out route as an attainable career path.
“There has also been a change in the University’s approach to commercialisation, which has facilitated this shift. Now we are up and running, we will continue to focus on supporting these companies.”
Unit DX year one statistics:
- £5m in investment and grant funding raised by members
- 60% building occupancy
- 12 University of Bristol spin-outs
- 17 companies founded by University of Bristol Alumni
Jaci Barnett, Senior Investment and Commercialisation Manager at the University of Bristol, said: “There has been a great deal of work put in across the University and the wider Bristol ecosystem to enable and encourage researchers who want to commercialise their work.
“Unit DX is a key part of this, easing the transition for University spin-out companies as they leave the campus and establish a base in a commercial environment. It’s been fantastic to see these companies gaining traction, taking up lab space and hiring staff from our graduate pool.”
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Submitted on 13/06/2018
