Imperial College London and Bruntwood SciTech have today announced a new partnership and unveiled a major new life sciences and deep tech innovation workspace in West London in a significant new investment in the Imperial WestTech Corridor – a powerful engine for investment, inclusive economic growth, and job creation.

The new innovation centre in London’s White City, which was welcomed by the UK Government’s Minister for Science Lord Patrick Vallance during London Life Sciences Week, will deliver world-class labs and workspaces where deep tech startups, scaleups and global businesses can co-locate, collaborate, and grow with Imperial’s world-leading Imperial academics, clinicians and researchers.

Backed by a £200 million investment from Bruntwood SciTech – a joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General and Greater Manchester Pension Fund – the partnership will deliver a new commercial innovation facility of at least 200,000 sq ft, marking a major milestone leap forward in the creation of an internationally significant innovation ecosystem in London’s White City and a huge boost to the UK’s science and technology sector. Much needed specialist infrastructure will unlock opportunities to commercialise R&D innovation and support highly skilled talent retention and job creation.

Along with Imperial’s research and translation expertise, the facility will give access to Bruntwood SciTech’s specialist support including its network of academic, clinical, and innovation partners, highly skilled talent, investment support, and growth programmes.

Located within the established ecosystem at Imperial’s White City Deep Tech Campus and the growing network of the Imperial WestTech Corridor, the new workspace will connect businesses with over 110 early-stage companies and world-leading academics, researchers, and clinicians.

The new partnership demonstrates how institutional capital can deliver a ‘big bang’ of investment to unlock economic growth for the UK. The announcement comes one year after Bruntwood SciTech expanded to include the UK’s largest local government pension fund, Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF), with an additional £500 million investment into the science, technology, and innovation sectors. Through partnerships with leading institutions like Imperial, the joint venture continues to provide a route for long-term, patient capital to play a crucial role in the growth of the domestic innovation sector.

In line with Bruntwood SciTech and Imperial’s sustainability commitments, the new centre will be net zero carbon in construction and operation in its communal spaces. Bruntwood SciTech will also provide 100% renewable energy across all shared areas in keeping with its entire 4.8m sq ft portfolio. Construction is anticipated to commence in 2026.

Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle said: “This partnership demonstrates the potential that can be unlocked when we combine the expertise of world-leading academics and researchers with the private sector. Working together, they can bring more advanced technologies from the lab to the market and turn more bright ideas into fully-fledged businesses.

“The innovation hub will be a great addition to Imperial’s White City Campus, which I have seen first-hand, with state-of-the art facilities that will cement the UK’s place as a top destination for businesses to grow. With the best resources, the researchers here will unlock new job opportunities and strengthen our economy, building on the investments showcased at the International Investment Summit.”

Dr Kath Mackay, Chief Scientific Officer of Bruntwood SciTech, said: “Having the opportunity to partner with Imperial to deliver the next phase of their world-leading science and technology campus is a tremendous accolade. It is also testament to our work over the last year to deliver on our commitments to driving forward the UK’s innovation economy through our existing work in Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool and Cambridge and buoyed by momentum from our half a billion pounds investment, coupled with the strength of our ongoing partnerships with leading educational and public sector institutions.

“The White City Campus is a hugely ambitious project that will help propel the UK to the forefront of innovation. Having worked to become deeply embedded in the knowledge economies of the UK’s leading regional cities and creating successful city-wide innovation ecosystems, it is now the perfect time for us to expand into London. This new, joined up approach between the capital and the UK’s fastest growing regional cities will enable businesses to harness the power of the collective and encourage companies of all sizes to consider the UK as their first choice for future investment.”