Life sciences incubator to expand
The BioHub Birmingham, which provides flexible laboratory space for pre-revenue life science companies, is expanding to meet the growing demand for laboratory space.
It opened in 2015 and the shared-space life science incubator on the ground floor quickly reached capacity.
The 3,700 sq ft first floor will now be fitted out to offer life science companies their own self-contained laboratory spaces, next to office and breakout space.
Companies will also benefit from access to research of the University of Birmingham and other business support services.
“Birmingham is increasingly visible as a destination for early stage medical and life science companies”, said Dr James Wilkie, chief executive of the Birmingham Research Park, which hosts the BioHub Birmingham.
“In the last months alone, we had more than 10 enquiries from overseas companies who are looking seriously at Birmingham as the location for their UK operations.”
Birmingham’s life sciences ecosystem includes 550 medical companies, 180 medical organisations, 80 hospitals and specialist care centres, 44 GP clinics and routine care facilities, and 23 training facilities.
The University of Birmingham, which owns the BioHub, is investing £600m in infrastructure to build assets that will further bring together the clinical, academic and commercial strengths in the region, and further boost Birmingham’s life science offer.
