Sciontec

What Sciontec does

Sciontec Developments Limited is a Liverpool-based, privately held developer and operator of science and technology real estate, registered in England and Wales (company number 11570273) and headquartered at The Spine, 2 Paddington Village, Liverpool. The company develops and manages a portfolio of Grade-A innovation buildings inside Liverpool's Knowledge Quarter, including Liverpool Science Park (innovation centres iC1, iC2, iC3), The Spine (a £35m, 14-storey, 160,000 sq ft building that is the northern home of the Royal College of Physicians and holds WELL Core Platinum certification), the recently launched CENTRAL TECH, plus The Plaza, Cotton House and the forthcoming HEMISPHERE development at Paddington Village (targeted for 2028). Within these buildings it provides serviced and leased offices, Containment Level 2 commercial laboratories (300-570 sq ft), coworking and hot-desking, virtual offices, meeting and event spaces, and an all-inclusive per-desk workspace line branded 'Sciontec AI'. The company's core technology is the property itself — high-spec, sustainably certified buildings (WELL Core Platinum, BREEAM 'Excellent', improved EPC) supported by building-wide ultrafast WiFi, on-site amenities and a Sciontec customer portal for bookings, visitor parking, document management and referrals.

Sciontec earns revenue primarily from recurring workspace subscriptions and leases: all-inclusive office subscriptions at The Spine (Flexi Space £29.99 p/w, Project Team £200 pcm per desk, Private Space from £250 pcm per desk), serviced and leased offices across LSP (3-55 people, up to 5,500 sq ft), The Plaza (6-160 people, up to 16,300 sq ft) and Cotton House, lab rentals at LSP, usage-based event and meeting room hire at CENTRAL TECH, and a £75 pcm Virtual Plus Membership. A smaller stream comes from long-cycle real-estate development income tied to HEMISPHERE and bespoke 'Made & Managed' fit-outs, plus indirect acquisition via the Sciontec Reward referral scheme. Go-to-market is hybrid: self-serve online booking for hot desks, day offices and meeting rooms; enquiry-led direct sales for serviced offices, labs and bespoke fit-outs; and field/enterprise sales for anchor tenants such as Zempler Bank (Cashplus), Elida Beauty, the Manufacturing Technology Centre, Innovate UK, the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal Academy of Engineering. The company positions itself as a partnership between academia, the public sector and private sector, leveraging Knowledge Quarter Liverpool and the Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Investment Zone as a community and policy platform.

Customers served span science and technology SMEs (60+ STEM businesses at LSP), research and education institutions (University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, Royal College of Physicians, Royal Academy of Engineering, LJMU Astrophysics Research Institute), health and life sciences tenants (Pandemic Institute, BioGrad Diagnostics, Pierian Biosciences, Civic Health Innovation Labs), advanced manufacturing (Manufacturing Technology Centre, CPI, Fusion Implants), fintech (Zempler Bank / Cashplus), consumer goods R&D (Elida Beauty, a Unilever brand), and innovation agencies (Innovate UK Business Growth, LCR Finance Hub). The reported 2024 annual accounts indicate the business is profitable, and operational signals are positive: LSP labs at 100% occupancy, CENTRAL TECH approaching full capacity after launching with 50%+ pre-lets, and the appointment in November 2025 of Barbara Spicer CBE as the first independent chair.

Name

Sciontec

Legal name

Sciontec Developments Limited

Website

https://sciontec.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sciontec Developments Limited is a Liverpool-based private developer and operator of Grade-A science and technology buildings in the Knowledge Quarter, offering serviced offices, Containment Level 2 laboratories, coworking, virtual offices and event space to STEM SMEs, research institutions and enterprise tenants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Liverpool

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Serviced / all-inclusive office subscriptions (Sciontec AI): Recurring pay-per-desk subscriptions across Flexi Space Membership (£29.99 p/w), Project Team Space (£200 pcm per desk) and Private Space (from £250 pcm per desk) at The Spine, with all-inclusive billing.
2. Leased and serviced office space (Liverpool Science Park, The Plaza, Cotton House): Leased and serviced office rentals ranging from small suites (3–55 people at LSP) up to 6–160 people at The Plaza (6 desks to 16,300 sq ft), plus 'Made & Managed' bespoke design and management packages.
3. Spaces for hire (event space, meeting rooms, day-hire offices, hot desks): Usage-based rental of event space (up to 60 people from £295), meeting rooms (up to 16 people from £40/hour), day-hire offices (up to 8 people from £195/day) and hot desking day passes (from £40/day) at CENTRAL TECH, with secure online payment booking.
4. Lab space rental: Rental of Containment Level 2 commercial laboratory space (300–570 sq ft) at Liverpool Science Park for scientific discovery tenants.
5. Real estate development (HEMISPHERE): Long-cycle development and operating income from new-build science/innovation real estate (e.g., forthcoming HEMISPHERE red-brick commercial structure at Paddington Village, targeted to complete 2028), developed in partnership with Morgan Sindall and Carter Jonas.
6. Sciontec Reward referral programme: Customer referral reward scheme (relaunched) that incentivises existing customers to refer new tenants, generating indirect acquisition-driven recurring revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Sciontec develops, owns and operates a portfolio of Grade-A science and technology buildings in Liverpool's Knowledge Quarter innovation district. Across Liverpool Science Park (iC1, iC2, iC3), The Spine, CENTRAL TECH, The Plaza and Cotton House, it leases serviced and private offices, Containment Level 2 laboratories, coworking/hot desks, an all-inclusive workspace brand (Sciontec AI), virtual offices and bookable meeting/event/day-hire spaces directly to science, technology, professional services and creative tenants.

Product overview

Sciontec is a Liverpool-based science and technology property developer and operator (legal entity: Sciontec Developments Limited, registered in England and Wales, company number 11570273) that develops and operates a portfolio of innovation buildings and the workspaces within them. Its core properties are Liverpool Science Park (three innovation centres iC1, iC2, iC3 in the Knowledge Quarter), The Spine (a £35m Grade-A building in Paddington Village, home of the Royal College of Physicians) and the recently launched CENTRAL TECH, with The Plaza, Cotton House and the forthcoming HEMISPHERE development extending the portfolio. Within these buildings, Sciontec offers a unified workspace platform comprising: serviced and leased Offices (including the premium Garden Suite and The Plaza 3rd-floor suites), containment Level 2 Labs, Hot Desking/Coworking, All Inclusive Workspace branded as Sciontec AI at The Spine, a Virtual Plus Membership for a virtual office, meeting and event space hire at CENTRAL TECH, and wrap-around Innovation & Growth Services that connect customers to Knowledge Quarter Liverpool programmes, university training and talent. The Sciontec Customer Portal and Sciontec Reward scheme are the digital and community services that sit across the property estate, supporting bookings, visitor parking, document management and referrals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sciontec AI: All-inclusive flexible workspace and serviced office offering, originally launched at The Spine in Paddington Village, Liverpool, providing coworking, project team, and private office options under a single bundled price.

Products and services

• Liverpool Science Park Grade A office space and Containment Level 2 commercial laboratories in the heart of Liverpool's Knowledge Quarter, comprising three innovation centres (iC1, iC2, iC3) housing more than 60 STEM businesses. Offers serviced and leased offices for 3–55 people (up to 5,500 sq ft), labs (300–570 sq ft), coworking and virtual office services. iC2 and iC3 are BREEAM 'Excellent' certified and the labs reached 100% occupancy.
• The Spine A £35m, 14-storey, 160,000 sq ft Grade-A office building at the heart of Paddington Village and the new northern home of the Royal College of Physicians. Achieved WELL Certification at the Core Platinum level from the International WELL Building Institute. Features biophilic double-storey sky gardens, 50 dedicated car parking spaces, 5 electric car charging points, an 8-person free-to-use meeting room, conferencing/event space, and is the inaugural location for the Sciontec AI all-inclusive workspace brand.
• CENTRAL TECH Recently launched collaborative community workspace for businesses engaged in technology and digitalisation, including advanced manufacturing, sustainability, sensors and IoT. Located within walking distance of Liverpool Lime Street and Central stations and close to Liverpool Science Park and Liverpool John Moores University's Student Life and Sports Building. Approaching full capacity.
• The Plaza Recently transformed £200m Liverpool city-centre office address with serviced and leased offices for 6–160 people (from 6 desks to 16,300 sq ft), including furnished offices with private terraces, meeting rooms (2–6 people, from £15–£60 per hour or £85–£350 per day), a third-floor lounge, terrace and piano, plus fitness studio, restaurant, bar and cafe on site.
• Cotton House (Cotton Exchange) Office space in the front section of the historic Cotton Exchange building on Old Hall Street in Liverpool, with on-site cafe and restaurant, free leased meeting rooms for 10–60 people (982–4,919 sq ft), 24/7 access, leased offices, Made & Managed options, and bookable meeting rooms for 4–8 people (from £12–£20 per hour, £60–£100 per day).
• Sciontec AI (All-Inclusive Workspace) All-inclusive flexible workspace brand offered at The Spine with three tiers: Flexi Space Membership (hot desk coworking from £29.99 p/w per desk), Project Team Space (£200 pcm per desk, dedicated desk bank), and Private Space (private serviced office from £250 pcm per desk). Bundled price includes desk, chair, locker, ultrafast WiFi, meeting rooms, business support programme and access to talent.
• Labs (Containment Level 2 commercial laboratory space) Purpose-built Containment Level 2 commercial laboratory space at Liverpool Science Park, with 300–570 sq ft units, supporting a wide range of scientific discovery. Reached 100% occupancy and is targeted at life sciences, biotech, clinical research and diagnostics tenants.
• The Garden Suite Premium, fully equipped office space at Liverpool Science Park designed to accommodate up to 40 people in the city centre, with unbeatable transport links and on-site amenities, supporting up to 40 people.
• Virtual Plus Membership (Virtual Office) Monthly membership (from £75 +VAT pcm) providing a registered Liverpool business address, mail handling/forwarding, a complimentary company brand profile on the Sciontec website, and discounted access to on-site meeting rooms and customer lounges with super-fast Wi-Fi. Targeted at home workers and remote-first businesses that want a prestigious office address without taking physical space.
• Spaces for Hire (Event, Meeting, Day-Hire Office, Hot Desk) Bookable spaces at CENTRAL TECH including an Event Space (up to 60 people, from £295, theatre/cabaret/boardroom layouts), a Boardroom meeting room (up to 16 people, from £40 per hour), Day-Hire Offices (up to 8 people, from £195 per day) and Hot Desking day passes (from £40 per day), with secure online payment and modern AV.
• Hot Desking Liverpool (Coworking) Pick-a-desk coworking membership at Liverpool Science Park from £29.95 per week (+VAT), with access to community benefits, modern hot desks in the flexible coworking space, ultrafast WiFi and on-site amenities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Liverpool Science Park labs reached 100% occupancy
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Morgan Sindall Construction & InfrastructurecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected by Sciontec to deliver HEMISPHERE One, Sciontec's new red-brick commercial development at Paddington Village. Morgan Sindall also appears as a Sciontec customer/tenant, indicating a deep construction and development relationship.
• Carter JonascoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAppointed by Sciontec at HEMISPHERE Two (the second phase of the HEMISPHERE development), acting as property/agency partner for the scheme.
• Knowledge Quarter Liverpool (KQ Liverpool)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic anchor of Sciontec's operating model. KQ Liverpool is the innovation district body that connects Sciontec customers to innovation services, business support programmes, events, talent and university partners; Sciontec/KQ Liverpool are jointly shortlisted for six awards.
• University of LiverpoolflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore academic partner providing talent, graduate recruitment, Civic Health Innovation Labs (CHIL), University of Liverpool IT Services and Careers & Employability, plus university-led business training for Sciontec customers.
• Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the Astrophysics Research Institute at LSP and offers degree apprenticeship drop-ins, with LJMU's Student Life and Sports Building adjacent to CENTRAL TECH. Provides talent, placements and business training to Sciontec customers.
• Royal College of PhysiciansflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe new northern home of the Royal College of Physicians, based at The Spine in Paddington Village; the partnership anchors The Spine as a health and life sciences destination and gives Sciontec customers access to the RCP's conference and events spaces.
• Bruntwood SciTechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBruntwood SciTech posts record profits as a peer/partner in the UK science and technology real estate sector; Bruntwood buildings offer 25% off meeting rooms to Sciontec customers (reciprocal). The 'Unveiling the new era of Bruntwood SciTech' coverage is featured in Sciontec's Partner News.
• Innovate UK Business GrowthcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted by Sciontec at The Spine; co-runs free drop-in funding and finance clinics (with LCR Finance Hub) at CENTRAL TECH for Sciontec customers and the wider KQ Liverpool community.
• LCR Finance HubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-runs free finance-focused drop-in clinics at CENTRAL TECH with Innovate UK Business Growth, providing funding advice to local businesses and Sciontec customers.
• Royal Academy of EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner
• Innovate UK (government innovation agency)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerWelcomed by Sciontec to The Spine; supports the wider Sciontec/KQ Liverpool innovation community and connects customers to national innovation funding and programmes.
• Liverpool City Region Combined AuthorityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic-sector anchor partner backing the Mayoral Development Corporation transformation of Liverpool's North Docks, the £2bn LCR Investment Fund, the Life Sciences Investment Zone and the 130-strong UKREiiF delegation; Sciontec is positioned within KQ Liverpool and the Life Sciences Investment Zone.
• Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpened MTC Liverpool training centre at LSP; co-locates advanced manufacturing capability and robotics (including Spot the robotic dog) within the Sciontec ecosystem, drawing training events and supply-chain tenants.
• Centre for Process Innovation (CPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpanded into the North West at Liverpool Science Park, extending the Sciontec/KQ Liverpool innovation cluster into advanced process manufacturing.
• Taylor WessingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides 'movement of goods' legal advice shared with the Sciontec community through the customer portal.
• Bruntwood (operator of Cotton Exchange and The Plaza)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOperator partner for Cotton House (front section of the historic Cotton Exchange) and The Plaza; Bruntwood buildings offer 25% off meeting rooms to Sciontec customers, indicating a reciprocal channel relationship.
• City of Hamburg, GermanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMayor Steve Rotheram signed a landmark AI agreement with Hamburg to develop closer ties between the two cities; Sciontec is part of the broader Liverpool City Region delegation benefiting from this cross-city innovation relationship.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• WeWork: Global flexible office and coworking operator offering serviced offices and meeting rooms. Comparable to Sciontec on the flexible office product side, though without lab space or a science/innovation focus.
• IWG (Regus / Spaces): Global flexible workspace giant operating Regus, Spaces, Signature and other coworking/serviced office brands. Comparable to Sciontec's coworking, serviced office and meeting room offerings but at much larger scale and without the science/lab specialism.

Direct peers

• Bruntwood SciTech: UK's leading science and technology property platform (joint venture between Bruntwood and Legal & General Capital). Operates lab and innovation workspaces in Manchester, Birmingham, Oxford, Leeds and Cambridge. Directly comparable as a specialist UK science/tech real estate developer and operator with a similar tenant mix and partnership model.
• Cambridge Science Park: One of the UK's oldest and largest science parks, owned by Trinity College Cambridge. Provides lab and office space to deep tech and life sciences tenants. Directly comparable as a UK science park operator with a similar product and customer mix to Sciontec.
• The Oxford Science Park: Oxford-based science and technology park owned by Magdalen College, Oxford. Provides lab, office and innovation space to life sciences and tech tenants. Comparable as a UK science park developer with a similar tenant base and university-linked model, though in a different region.
• BioCity: Nottingham-based life sciences and biotech incubator/workspace operator. Operates lab and office space for life science start-ups and scale-ups. Comparable to Sciontec in providing high-spec lab space and innovation services to early-stage science businesses, though geographically distinct.
• Manchester Science Park (MSP): Manchester-based innovation district operator providing office, lab and coworking space to science and technology businesses. Closely comparable as a regional UK science park operator targeting STEM tenants in partnership with local universities and public sector.

Others

• Yarnfield House / Midlands Engine / Northern Powerhouse (placeholder for public-sector investment bodies): Not a single comparable company but represents the broader public-sector innovation funding ecosystem (e.g., Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Northern Powerhouse, Midlands Engine, UK Levelling Up) that underwrites Sciontec's model. Relevant as enabling ecosystem rather than direct competitor.

Regional players

• Innovation Birmingham / Bruntwood SciTech (Innovation Birmingham Campus): Birmingham-based innovation campus (now part of Bruntwood SciTech) supporting tech and digital start-ups. Comparable as a UK regional innovation district operator, though serving a different city than Sciontec.
• ARC (Oxford & Cambridge innovation spaces): Operator of innovation and lab-enabled workspace in Oxford and Cambridge for science and technology start-ups. Comparable to Sciontec as a UK life sciences workspace operator in a competing innovation cluster.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Sciontec

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Sciontec