University of Southampton Science Park

What University of Southampton Science Park does

University of Southampton Science Park operates a 72-acre innovation campus at 2 Venture Road, Chilworth, Southampton, delivering flexible commercial office, laboratory, and meeting space to over 90 tenant companies engaged in research, development, high-tech manufacturing, and related services. The park's core physical product comprises commercial tenancies (offices, laboratories, and mixed-use space), the Infinity Labs high-specification R&D space, the Axis Conference Centre, and 11 configurable meeting rooms accommodating between 2 and 200 attendees with full catering. Business support services are delivered through the Catalyst Programme (a startup accelerator) and the SETsquared Business Growth Programme (a scale-up support offering), complemented by R&D advisory and growth and investment support. Approximately 15% of resident companies originate from the University of Southampton as spin-outs or academic staff ventures, making the long-standing institutional relationship with the university the principal source of tenant inflow.

The operating model is a hybrid of recurring commercial property rental, transaction-based meeting and conference room hire, subscription-style business support programme fees, and event sponsorship income. The tenant base mixes early-stage technology startups with established multinationals and mid-market firms, including consumer electronics, semiconductors, healthcare technology, energy and industrial services, and professional services. Distribution is direct: prospective tenants engage the park's management team for space, and meetings are booked through an internal MIDAS system. Marketing is conducted through the company website (science-park.co.uk), organic social channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram), email newsletters, and regional event sponsorship. The legal entity is The University of Southampton Science Park Ltd (Companies House number 01698409), a privately held UK company with no disclosed parent, institutional investor, or external shareholder structure.

Name

University of Southampton Science Park

Legal name

The University of Southampton Science Park Ltd

Website

https://science-park.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

University of Southampton Science Park operates a 72-acre innovation campus near Southampton, UK, providing commercial offices, laboratories, and conferencing facilities to over 90 technology tenants, alongside business support programmes linked to the University of Southampton and SETsquared.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Real Estate Services

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Universities with Strong Industry Partnerships (EDAHAEAG)

Keywords

• Science park facilities
• Commercial laboratory space
• Business incubation services
• Office space rental
• Innovation hub leasing

Headquarters

HQ city

Southampton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Commercial Property Rental: Leasing of commercial offices, laboratories, and mixed-use spaces to technology businesses and startups at the science park.
2. Meeting Room Hire: Hiring out meeting rooms and conference facilities to tenants and external visitors with catering options.
3. Business Support Services: Catalyst Programme accelerator, SETsquared membership, growth and investment support, research and development advisory services.
4. Event Sponsorship: Sponsorship of regional tech and innovation awards events as a supporting partner.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The University of Southampton Science Park operates a 72-acre innovation hub providing commercial offices, laboratories, and mixed-use spaces for lease to technology businesses. It also offers meeting and conference facilities (Axis Conference Centre and 11 configurable meeting rooms) and business support programmes including the Catalyst Programme accelerator and the SETsquared Business Growth Programme, with close ties to the University of Southampton providing access to research expertise and graduate talent.

Product overview

University of Southampton Science Park operates as a 72-acre innovation hub providing physical property and business support services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include commercial office and laboratory spaces, with Infinity Labs providing high-specification innovation facilities for science, technology and R&D businesses. Meeting and event infrastructure comprises 11 configurable meeting rooms and the Axis Conference Centre. Business support is delivered through programmes including the Catalyst Programme (business accelerator) and SETsquared Business Growth Programme (scale-up support), all designed to support technology businesses at various stages of development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Infinity Labs: High-spec facilities for science, technology and R&D-led businesses with access to high performing talent.
• Axis Conference Centre
• The Catalyst Programme
• SETsquared Business Growth Programme

Products and services

• Infinity Labs High-specification innovation space providing facilities for science, technology and R&D-led businesses with access to high-performing talent, located within one of the UK's leading centres for innovation. Targeted at technology and R&D tenants of the science park.
• Commercial Office and Laboratory Spaces Wide range of commercial offices, laboratories, and mixed-use spaces available for tenancy to over 90 companies engaged in research, development, high-tech manufacturing, or services supporting these sectors. Targeted at technology businesses requiring workspace on the science park.
• Meeting Rooms 11 configurable meeting rooms accommodating 2-200 attendees for business meetings and events, with full catering services available. Booked through the MIDAS booking system for resident companies and visitors.
• Axis Conference Centre Conference and events venue at the Science Park offering facilities for business events, conferences, and meetings with catering support. Targeted at tenants and external organisations hosting business events.
• The Catalyst Programme Business accelerator programme providing mentorship, resources, and growth support to startups based at the Science Park. Targeted at early-stage technology and science ventures.
• SETsquared Business Growth Programme SETsquared Membership and Business Growth Programme providing access to one of the UK's most successful university-backed business incubators focused on high-growth technology companies. Targeted at scaling technology businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15% of companies at the Park originate from the University of Southampton as spin-outs or academic staff ventures
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of SouthamptoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe science park maintains close institutional links with the University of Southampton, giving resident companies access to some of the UK's leading scientific expertise and opportunities to benefit from graduate and postgraduate placements. Approximately 15% of companies at the Park originate from the University as spin-outs or ventures from academic staff.
• SETsquared PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe science park offers SETsquared Membership and SETsquared Business Growth Programme, providing access to one of the UK's most successful university-backed business incubators focused on high-growth technology companies.
• The Business MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organiser of South Coast Property Awards and South Coast Tech & Innovation Awards events, providing marketing and promotional partnership for regional recognition of technology businesses.
• Spectrum IT RecruitmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHeadline sponsor of South Coast Tech and Innovation Awards 2026, supporting the regional technology and innovation community.
• BDOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting sponsor of South Coast Tech and Innovation Awards 2026, contributing to regional technology and innovation recognition.
• Blake MorganminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting sponsor of South Coast Tech and Innovation Awards 2026.
• Shaw GibbsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting sponsor of South Coast Tech and Innovation Awards 2026.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cambridge Science Park: UK's longest-established and largest science park, managed by Trinity College, Cambridge. Directly comparable to Southampton Science Park as a university-affiliated innovation hub providing offices, laboratories, and business support to technology and R&D tenants.
• Manchester Science Park: Major UK regional science park providing office, lab, and incubation space to tech and life-science businesses in the North West. Closely comparable in operating model, tenant mix, and university-affiliated structure to Southampton Science Park.
• Surrey Research Park: University of Surrey-affiliated science park offering offices, laboratories, and innovation support to technology tenants. Shares the same university-linked, R&D-focused model and South of England geography as Southampton Science Park.
• Edinburgh Science Park (BioQuarter / Edinburgh Technopole): Scottish science park providing office and laboratory space with university and public-sector partnerships. Comparable in structure, R&D tenant focus, and university-affiliated ecosystem model.
• Warwick Science Park: University of Warwick-affiliated science park offering office, lab, and innovation services to technology and life-science businesses. Operates a similar university-linked, asset-based business model with incubation programmes.
• Oxford Science Park: Major UK science park near Oxford offering offices and laboratories to science and technology businesses. Comparable in tenant profile, location (South of England), and university-anchored positioning.

Broad incumbents

• SETsquared Partnership: A university-backed business incubator network across five UK universities (including Southampton). Overlaps with Southampton Science Park through the SETsquared Business Growth Programme offer and is a partner, but operates at a broader national scale rather than a single physical site.
• Harwell Science and Innovation Campus: Large-scale science and innovation campus in Oxfordshire with deep ties to national research facilities. Provides similar R&D and office infrastructure but at significantly larger scale and with broader public-sector involvement.

Regional players

• Aston Science Park: Birmingham-based science park affiliated with Aston University. Comparable in operating model but serves a different regional market (West Midlands) rather than competing directly with Southampton in the South.
• Exeter Science Park: South West England science park providing office and laboratory space to technology and life-science businesses. Comparable in offering but focused on the Exeter/Devon corridor rather than the Solent region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SouthamptonSciencePark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-university-of-southampton-science-park
• Instagraminstagram.com/southampton_science_park
• Xx.com/USSPark

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University of Southampton Science Park