What Sci-Tech Daresbury does

Sci-Tech Daresbury is a UK-based national science and innovation campus operator that rents office, laboratory, and desk space to science, technology, and engineering companies, founded as a joint venture between the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC, part of UKRI), Halton Borough Council, and Langtree. The campus is built on the 50+ year scientific heritage of the STFC Daresbury Laboratory and hosts over 150 companies ranging from early-stage start-ups to global leaders, including PsiQuantum ($7 billion valuation), Sky Medical Technology (King's Award for Enterprise in Innovation 2025), Lavasource, Azinq, NHS Supply Chain, and Avian Ecology.

The campus portfolio spans approximately 280,000+ sq ft of lettable space across the Innovation Centre (24,000 sq ft), Vanguard House (36,000 sq ft), Techspace One (33,000 sq ft) and Two (10,000 sq ft), Violet (44,783 sq ft), Violet Phase Two (23,000 sq ft office plus 60,000 sq ft lab), the Campus Technology Hub, and the Innovations Technology Access Centre. Underlying scientific infrastructure accessible to tenants and external partners includes the Hartree Centre — anchored by the Mary Coombs supercomputer delivering 24.41 petaflops on a GPU-based architecture for AI workloads, under the £210 million Hartree National Centre for Digital Innovation collaboration with IBM — the CLARA particle accelerator (250 MeV electron beam, opening to users in 2026), and the £51.2 million National Cryogenic Facility supporting research at 2–20 Kelvin.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring rental subscriptions on flexible and long-term leases, supplemented by conference and event space hire and fees from incubation programmes including the Health Business Incubation Centre (with support packages worth up to £70,000 per company). Distribution is direct via the campus property team and online enquiry form, with a Gold Partner referral network of roughly 15 professional services firms (IBM, British Business Bank, Grant Thornton, Marks & Clerk, three Russell Group universities) and a Soft Landing Programme partnership with the Department for Business and Trade India driving international tenant acquisition.

Name

Sci-Tech Daresbury

Legal name

Sci-Tech Daresbury

Website

https://sci-techdaresbury.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sci-Tech Daresbury is a UK science and innovation campus operator that rents office, laboratory, and desk space to over 150 science and technology companies, anchored by the STFC Daresbury Laboratory and its world-class supercomputing, particle accelerator, and cryogenic research infrastructure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Daresbury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Commercial Real Estate Rental — Office and Laboratory Space: Sci-Tech Daresbury generates revenue primarily through the rental and leasing of office, laboratory, and desk space across its portfolio of buildings on the campus. Buildings include The Innovation Centre (24,000 sq ft), Vanguard House (36,000 sq ft), Techspace One (33,000 sq ft), Techspace Two (10,000 sq ft), Violet (44,783 sq ft), Violet Phase Two (23,000 + 60,000 sq ft), Campus Technology Hub (15–50 sq ft), and the Innovations Technology Access Centre. Space is offered on flexible/short-term and long-term lease options.
2. Conference and Event Space Rental: The campus offers conference and event space for hire, supporting networking events such as the Business Breakfast Network (BBN), as well as meetings and larger functions for campus tenants and external organisations.
3. Business Support Services and Incubation Programme Fees: Revenue is generated through tailored business support packages provided to early-stage companies via the Health Business Incubation Centre (Health BIC) and other STFC Deep Tech Catalyst programmes. The Health BIC provides a support package worth up to £70,000 per company.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sci-Tech Daresbury operates a national science and innovation campus that rents office, laboratory, and desk space to science, technology, and engineering companies. Tenants gain access to world-class research facilities at the STFC Daresbury Laboratory including the Hartree Centre supercomputing, CLARA particle accelerator, and National Cryogenic Facility, along with business support, incubation programmes, and a collaborative ecosystem of 150+ companies.

Product overview

Sci-Tech Daresbury is a national science and innovation campus offering a portfolio of physical workspace solutions rather than a unified software product. Its core offerings include flexible office space (The Innovation Centre, Vanguard House, Violet), laboratory space (Techspace One, Techspace Two, Violet Phase Two), and desk space (Campus Technology Hub, Innovations Technology Access Centre). The campus provides access to world-class science facilities through its partnership with STFC Daresbury Laboratory, including the Hartree Centre for AI and supercomputing. Additional services include incubation programmes (Future Club, Health BIC, Soft Landing Programme) and industry clusters. The campus serves over 150 companies from startups to global leaders across science, technology, and engineering sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Campus Community: Online platform for campus tenants providing room bookings, fault reporting, job postings, and community features.
• NetworkHub
• Future Club

Products and services

• Office Space Rental Flexible Grade A office space available to rent across multiple purpose-built buildings on the Sci-Tech Daresbury campus, targeted at science, technology, and engineering companies ranging from SMEs to established enterprises. Buildings offer meeting rooms, hot desks, showers, high-speed internet, parking, and flexible lease terms.
• Lab Space Rental High-spec laboratory space for biomedical, materials, clean tech, and developing technology companies, featuring ground-floor access labs, high-tech offices, gas/chemical storage, liquid waste disposal, and compressed air/nitrogen infrastructure.
• Desk Space Rental Flexible desk space at the Campus Technology Hub (15-50 sq ft) for early-stage companies, providing high-spec offices, meeting rooms, project spaces, 3D printing, and VR equipment.
• Conference and Event Space Conference and event space available for hire on the Sci-Tech Daresbury campus, suitable for business meetings, workshops, corporate events, and networking functions for campus tenants and external organisations.
• Science Facilities Access Access to world-class science facilities at Daresbury Laboratory (part of STFC and UKRI), including the Hartree Centre supercomputing and AI capabilities, CLARA particle accelerator, and National Cryogenic Facility for campus companies and industry partners.
• Incubation Programmes Business incubation programmes including the Future Club for startups, Soft Landing Programme for international companies, and Health Business Incubation Centre (Health BIC) for health and life sciences startups with support packages worth up to £70,000.
• Technology Clusters Industry-specific clusters connecting companies with shared interests in sectors such as space, health, digital, and advanced manufacturing, facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing across the campus ecosystem.

Quantifiable outcome

• Campus tenants achieve average annual sales growth of over 25%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered important, flagship, core and minor.

• Manchester Airports Group (MAG)importantChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 March 2026MAG, the UK's largest airport group serving 65 million+ passengers annually, selected Azinq (headquartered at Sci-Tech Daresbury) to deploy its Airport Hive platform across all three MAG airports (Manchester, London Stansted, East Midlands). This contract represents a significant endorsement of a campus company.
• NHS Supply ChainimportantChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 November 2025NHS Supply Chain manages sourcing, delivery, and supply of healthcare products and services for NHS trusts across England and Wales. It leased space at Techspace One, consolidating its Chester and Warrington teams at Sci-Tech Daresbury, embedding within the region's healthcare innovation ecosystem.
• British Business BankimportantGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 September 2025The British Business Bank joined Sci-Tech Daresbury's Gold Partner programme in September 2025. It provides finance and funding guidance to campus companies, helping innovative businesses access the right capital at the right time to scale, create high-value jobs, and compete globally. The bank is owned by the Department for Business and Trade but operationally independent.
• Invest Liverpool City Region / Department for Business and Trade IndiaimportantGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2025A two-year partnership between Invest Liverpool City Region and the Department for Business and Trade India showcased the Liverpool City Region to over 100 of India's most dynamic tech firms through delegations and regional visits. This programme facilitated the arrival of three Indian companies (TIBS Global, VenPep Solutions, Everleaves Systems) at Sci-Tech Daresbury via the Soft Landing Programme.
• STFC Deep Tech Catalyst — Health Business Incubation Centre (Health BIC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024The Health BIC at Sci-Tech Daresbury is part of STFC's nationwide Deep Tech Catalyst network, which in 2024 generated £78 million in economic impact and has contributed over £350 million since 2011. The Health BIC supports early-stage health and life sciences companies with facilities, expertise, and a support package worth up to £70,000 per company.
• STFC Deep Tech Catalyst — Bio BICflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024The Bio BIC (Biotechnology Business Incubation Centre) is part of STFC's Deep Tech Catalyst at Sci-Tech Daresbury, supporting early-stage biotech companies with facilities, expertise, and business guidance to commercialise deep-tech innovations in life sciences.
• STFC Deep Tech Catalyst — QuBICflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024QuBIC (Quantum Computing BIC) operates in collaboration with the National Quantum Computing Centre at Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, as part of STFC's Deep Tech Catalyst. It supports quantum computing start-ups at Sci-Tech Daresbury.
• Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTFC is the anchor tenant and co-owner (via joint venture) of Sci-Tech Daresbury. Daresbury Laboratory, part of STFC and UKRI, provides world-class research infrastructure including the Hartree Centre (supercomputing/AI), CLARA accelerator, National Cryogenic Facility, and advanced microscopy. Over 150 campus companies benefit from proximity to STFC scientists and facilities. STFC also operates its Deep Tech Catalyst programmes (Health BIC, Bio BIC, QuBIC, Space BIC) at Sci-Tech Daresbury.
• Halton Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHalton Borough Council is a joint venture partner in Sci-Tech Daresbury. As the local authority for the area, it provides public sector anchoring, regional development support, and connections to local government initiatives and funding streams.
• LangtreecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLangtree is a joint venture partner in Sci-Tech Daresbury. As a property and investment company, Langtree contributes commercial property expertise and investment capability to the campus development and management.
• IBMflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBM is a key strategic partner through the £210 million Hartree National Centre for Digital Innovation (HNCDI) collaboration with STFC. IBM Research contributes to supercomputing, AI, quantum computing, and semiconductor research at the Hartree Centre on campus. IBM also participates in the Gold Partner programme.
• NVIDIAflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNVIDIA partnered with PsiQuantum (a campus company at Sci-Tech Daresbury) across quantum algorithms and software, GPU-QPU integration, and PsiQuantum's silicon photonics platform. NVIDIA's venture capital arm, NVentures, participated in PsiQuantum's $1 billion Series E funding round.
• University of LiverpoolimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Gold Partner and academic collaborator, the University of Liverpool (Russell Group, £708.3 million annual turnover, £163.1 million annual research income) supports campus companies through student placements, research collaboration, and talent pipeline. The university also has a spin-out pipeline feeding companies into the campus ecosystem (e.g., SenseAI Vision Ltd).
• University of ManchesterimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Gold Partner, the University of Manchester collaborates with Sci-Tech Daresbury through initiatives such as the Aerospace and Space Industrial Advisory Board and North West Space Cluster. The university connects its aerospace engineering students with space sector opportunities on campus.
• University of SalfordminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Gold Partner and academic partner, University of Salford supports campus activities through collaboration and talent pipeline development for campus companies.
• Hartree National Centre for Digital Innovation (HNCDI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHNCDI is a £210 million collaboration between STFC and IBM housed at the Hartree Centre on the Sci-Tech Daresbury campus. It provides UK industry and public sector organisations access to AI, quantum computing, and data analytics technologies and expertise.
• South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe STFC Hartree Centre (located at Sci-Tech Daresbury) collaborates with SAAO on the 'Intelligent Observatory' programme, using AI and advanced digital technologies to automate and make telescopes smarter. Funded through UKRI's International Science Partnership Fund.
• Bouygues Energies & Services (BYES)importantImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerA Gold Partner, BYES specialises in designing and building process facilities and cleanrooms for the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors. With 50+ years of experience, BYES supports campus companies in laboratory design, construction, and regulatory compliance.
• Grant ThorntonimportantImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerA Gold Partner with offices in Manchester and Liverpool, Grant Thornton provides audit, tax, and advisory services to campus companies, with particular expertise in R&D tax credits, outsourcing, and financial compliance relevant to science and technology SMEs.
• Marks & ClerkimportantImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerA Gold Partner, Marks & Clerk is an intellectual property (IP) firm providing full IP services including patents, trademarks, designs, copyright, litigation, due diligence, and licensing advice to campus companies to help identify, protect, and maximise the value of their innovations.
• Slater HeelisminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerA Gold Partner, Slater Heelis is a full-service commercial law firm providing legal support to campus companies in corporate structures, governance, investment and funding rounds, commercial contracts, IP rights, employment law, and dispute resolution.
• KonsileominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerA Gold Partner and award-winning tech insurance broker, Konsileo provides specialist insurance services to campus companies covering Professional Indemnity, Liabilities, Cyber, Business interruption, Directors & Officers, Clinical Trials, and Intellectual Property.
• RTC NorthminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerA Gold Partner and one of the UK's leading business support and innovation service providers (established 1989), RTC North helps campus companies develop new products, access new markets, and compete globally. Has worked directly with over 30,000 SMEs.
• Asset Lifecycle SolutionsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerA Gold Partner and ADISA STANDARD 8.0 certified IT asset disposal specialist, providing sustainable and secure IT lifecycle management services to campus companies including responsible equipment recycling and data destruction.
• David Antrobus MarketingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerA Gold Partner providing strategic marketing consultancy to campus companies, including branding & design, website development, SEO, advertising & campaigns, and exhibition & event marketing.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Edinburgh BioQuarter: Life-sciences innovation district in Edinburgh anchored by the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian, focused on biotech and translational medicine tenants. Comparable Health/Bio BIC-style offering to Sci-Tech Daresbury's Health BIC, but operating primarily in Scotland rather than competing for the same tenant base.

Direct peers

• Cambridge Science Park: The UK's longest-established science park, managed by Trinity College Cambridge with broad deep-tech and biotech tenant base. Comparable in offering flex/specialised lab and office space to growth-stage science and technology firms, with similar incubation and grant-supported facilities.
• Oxford Science Park: Major UK science park in Oxford serving life-sciences and deep-tech tenants from start-up to corporate scale. Comparable in offering purpose-built lab and office space with adjacent university talent inflows and a similar profile of scaling science companies.
• Babraham Research Campus: Life-sciences R&D campus near Cambridge, anchored by the Babraham Institute (BBSRC) and managed through a Bio-Enterprise / Accelerate@Babraham model. Closely comparable on the biotech/life-sciences incubation angle that Health BIC at Sci-Tech Daresbury targets.
• Culham Science Centre: UKAEA-anchored R&D campus near Oxford for fusion and advanced engineering, operated as a public-private enterprise zone. Same model of co-locating national research infrastructure with private tenant space, with comparable sector profiles in quantum-adjacent and clean-energy tenants.
• Manchester Science Park: A major UK regional science park operated by Bruntwood SciTech, hosting 150+ tech and life-sciences companies in Greater Manchester. Closest geographic peer to Sci-Tech Daresbury with overlapping tenant profiles and similar mix of incubated start-ups through to scaling tenants.
• Surrey Research Park: University-of-Surrey-affiliated science park offering lab and office space to 200+ companies, including spin-outs and scale-ups in space, health tech, and engineering. Comparable in its university-Gold-Partner-style talent pipeline and in incubation-stage support packages.
• Alderley Park: A Bruntwood SciTech-operated life-sciences and tech campus in Cheshire. Comparable in tenant mix (biomedical, biotech, advanced manufacturing SMEs) and in scale, and a direct rival for North West tenant relocations away from Sci-Tech Daresbury.
• Harwell Science and Innovation Campus: UK national science and innovation campus anchored by STFC's Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, hosting 250+ organisations across space, quantum, health, and clean-tech — the closest structural peer to Sci-Tech Daresbury, sharing the STFC/UKRI anchor and a public-private governance model.

Broad incumbents

• Research Triangle Park (RTP): One of the largest research parks globally in North Carolina, USA, hosting 300+ companies across life sciences, ICT, and clean energy. Comparable as a much broader incumbent in the science-park category, with similar university/government anchors but at materially greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/scitecdaresbury
• Facebookfacebook.com/scitechdaresbury
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sci-tech-daresbury

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sci-Tech Daresbury