Affordable biolab spaces are now available at the Old Laundry Yard in Shepherd’s Bush Market thanks to a partnership between Open Cell, U+I and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and SynbiCITE.
Shepherd's Bush Market
The initial phase of this project will see the availability of 20 low cost, start up studios in shipping containers, which can be used by innovators and entrepreneurs to build, test and demonstrate biotech-focused innovations.
“There is little or no infrastructure available to help talented scientists, designers and early stage biotech businesses to take their concepts to the next stage. Open Cell is a meeting place for anyone in the sciences or design disciplines to contribute to the burgeoning biotech sector in London. We are delighted U+I embraces our vision and is providing space for our first hub,” explained co-founder Helene Steiner.
Steiner conceived of the idea while working in Microsoft Research and moonlighting as a lecturer in the Royal College of Art. Teaching biodesign alongside Dr Thomas Meany who was working in the Biotechnology Department of Cambridge University, Steiner and Meany saw students with great ideas but no place to develop them.
Project funders and advisors Professors Paul Freemont and Richard Kitney, co-directors of SynbiCITE, Imperial College London, added: “We are seeing new companies popping up in unlikely places, outside the traditional University environment. By supporting Open Cell, we hope that early stage innovators can propel their ideas to prototypes faster than ever before. We are particularly excited about the opportunities for collaboration between designers, artists and biotechnologists that will make Open Cell and the UK the leading place for innovation in bio-based applications.”
Helene Steiner and Dr Thomas Meany