What can you expect - as a start-up business – from AberInnovation?
This blog explores how AberInnovation offers startup companies a springboard to innovating and growing. As a leading science and research hub located in Aberystwyth, Wales, we can be the catalyst of innovation and success, providing startups access to state-of-the-art laboratories, world-class research expertise, and collaborative opportunities.
Entrepreneurs can expect support in developing and scaling their innovative ideas, access to funding and investment networks, and a supportive community of like-minded innovators.
Our emphasis on sustainability and agri-tech innovation makes us particularly attractive for startups in the fields of biotechnology, agriculture, food tech and environmental sciences, offering a unique base from which companies can thrive and make a positive impact on global challenges.
-Is startup funding support available at AberInnovation?
Through established funding partnerships and grants, for example through BBSRC, Innovate UK and Welsh Government Innovation, AberInnovation offers regular funding programmes to help startups take concepts through to product development, testing and the viability phases, as well as providing links to market.
Once in possession of funding, grant recipients can use AberInnovation as both a business base and a research site as well as have access to technical support, business mentorship and academic links.
-What expertise can startups expect at AberInnovation?
The resources and assistance offered at Aberinnovation are enablers to both product development and business expansion. This is championed by a cohesive community of top-tier professionals and exceptional companies who unite under a shared goal and operating from one location.
Headed up by Dr Rhian Hayward MBE, CEO of AberInnovation, all businesses based at AberInnovation have access to a support team who have the following skills portfolio:
Biorefining and food technologists
Technical leads overseeing the smooth running of projects in the facilities
Industrial engagement experts to liaise with businesses
Lab technicians to support projects, use of equipment and reporting
Operations, marketing and finance support team members
-What key facilities are available to support startup research?
The primary testing facilities for both startups and established business tenants at AberInnovation are unrivalled in the UK.
The key assets of the Biorefining Centre include:
Primary processing
Downstream processing
Industrial biotechnology acceleration suite
Pilot fermentation unit
Low carbon laboratory
BRC certified food grade facility
Biolical prospecting suite
Clean room and product finishing
Blog: The business of biorefining
The Future Food Centre offers an environment to test, validate and improve products in the food supply chain using the following testing facilities:
Liquid and commodities processing
Fermentation
Butchery
Retail display and shelf life capabilities
Composition and nutrition
Food quality testing
Sensory analysis
Blog: Meet our food technologist
The Advanced Analysis Centre supports a wide range of analytical needs and interacts with Aberystwyth University for food intervention studies.
The centre’s capabilities include Qualitative and quantitative analysis of:
Lipids, free fatty acids and short-chain fatty acids
Proteins and free amino acids
Sugars and starch
Pigments
Vitamins
Sterols and steroids
Dietary biomarkers
Volatiles
Nitrate and nitrates
Non-targeted screening and phenotyping using:
Metabolomic
Lipidomics
Samples can include:
Raw and processed foods
Plant materials
Fermentation products
Nutraceuticals
Cosmetics
Biofluids
Clinical samples
Seed Biobank
The Seed Biobank and crop seed processing facility offer a controlled environment facility for the secure storage and cataloguing of plant genetic resources. These facilities support IBERS' world-renowned plant breeding programmes, enabling the development of new plant varieties and maintenance of many commercial plant varieties.
The AberInnovation Innovation Hub is a social space for meetings, events and collaborative working, to allow owners of fledgling businesses the chance to network with each other as well as organisations from the business and research sector.
-What are the key features of the AberInnovation campus?
In addition to a wide range of networking and team working space, the site offers onsite parking, EV charging, super-fast broadband as well as showers and lockers.
Technical features include benefits for researchers such as cold rooms, hazardous waste disposal and private lab hire.
-Success stories
Visit our case studies page to learn more about the startups in agri tech, food tech and environmental sciences whose research and business journeys began at AberInnovation.
If you would like more information about our team, services and funding opportunities, contact us.
