UWE Bristol’s innovation centre Future Space contributes £56 million to the economy over the last 10 years

Future Space, the University of the West of England’s (UWE Bristol) innovation centre for high-tech businesses, is celebrating a decade of impact after generating more than £136 million in investment and grant funding, and contributing £56 million in Gross Added Value (GVA) to the economy.

Established in 2016 as part of the UK Government's University Enterprise Zone programme, Future Space was created to bring together cutting-edge workspace, university research, business growth and talent pipelines under one roof. Located at UWE Bristol's Frenchay campus and managed in partnership with Oxford Innovation Space, the centre has grown into one of the West of England's most significant assets for university-partnered innovation.

Supporting 178 businesses over the last decade, Future Space has also created nearly 1,000 skilled jobs and launched 588 new products, services and patents into the world.

Central to Future Space's model is the creation of an environment where resident businesses can access everything they need to scale in one place, drawing on students, facilities and academics to help businesses grow and create economic and social impact.

Over the last 10 years, Future Space has supported start-ups and scale-ups across robotics, AI, medtech, biotech and digital innovation. This includes Albotherm, which offers temperature-responsive greenhouse coatings to support sustainable farming, and eXmoor Pharma, which has been at the forefront of cell and gene therapy for 20 years.

Professor Matt Freeman, Centre Director of Future Space, said: "Over the last decade, Future Space has become a place where businesses, researchers and student talent stop operating in separate worlds and start innovating together.

“Our impact figures tell a story of hundreds of new products and innovations, almost a thousand jobs, over £136 million of investment secured, and thousands of moments where researchers, students, founders and partners have come together to turn ideas into real-world impact.”

One Future Space business to experience significant growth is SAH Diagnostics, which delivers specialist cancer diagnostic services to 34 NHS trusts and hospitals across the UK. After three years based at Future Space developing the world's first mobile urology unit, SAH Diagnostics has recently opened a new cancer diagnostic centre in Bradley Stoke. The company has supported the treatment of more than 400,000 patients to date, partnering with UWE Bristol to develop community outreach programmes and working towards an accredited training and education programme.

Tracey John, Director of Research and External Engagement at UWE Bristol, commented: "Future Space demonstrates the vital role universities can play in driving innovation, supporting business growth and creating opportunities for people and communities.

“As we celebrate this milestone, we are also celebrating Bristol's strength as a city of innovation – one that continues to show how partnerships between universities and businesses can help address some of society's biggest challenges while creating sustainable economic growth."

UWE Bristol students also gain valuable real-world experience through the innovation centre. In the last year, over 400 UWE Bristol students have engaged with businesses based at Future Space through student projects, funded internships and part-time roles, bridging the gap between study and employment. 

Future Space’s approach has been recognised nationally. The UK Government's final evaluation of the University Enterprise Zone programme identified Future Space as one of the strongest-performing centres in the UK, highlighting its close integration with UWE Bristol, strong ecosystem support and high levels of university-business collaboration.

The evaluation found that Future Space outperformed comparator University Enterprise Zones across several key measures, including jobs generated per £1 million invested, value of knowledge exchange projects and annual turnover growth. It also identified Future Space as the only University Enterprise Zone with increasing university engagement over time.

Jo Stevens, Managing Director at Oxford Innovation Space, added: "At Oxford Innovation Space, we believe that when innovative businesses are given the right environment to grow, they create jobs, attract investment and strengthen local economies. Future Space is a fantastic example of this in action. Over the past ten years, it has become a catalyst for innovation-led growth in the West of England, helping ambitious founders turn ideas into successful businesses and delivering significant economic impact for the region."