Aura

Name

Aura

Legal name

Aura Innovation Centre

Website

https://aura-innovation.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation Support Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry/Domain Analytics Solutions & Accelerators (BPAEAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Enterprise Architecture & IT Operating Model (BPAHAEAB)

Keywords

• Innovation support services
• Low-carbon R&D
• Offshore wind innovation
• Business support programs
• Academic research collaboration

Headquarters

HQ city

Hessle

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Venue Hire and Event Space Rental: Revenue generated from hiring out conference rooms, event spaces, and venue facilities at the Aura Innovation Centre. Includes spaces like Conference Suite (up to 180 theatre style), Boardroom, Technology Demonstration Area, and Mezzanine
2. Coworking Space Subscriptions: AuraFlex coworking membership at £200/month billed monthly with reduced rates for 12+ month tenancies. Also offers day passes at £25 per day
3. Funded Business Support Programs: Delivers UKSPF-funded innovation support including 50% innovation grants up to £30k, fully funded graduate internships, and 50% funded access to specialist academic expertise. Part of UK Government's Levelling Up agenda allocated to Hull City Council
4. Research and Development Collaboration: Facilitates collaboration between businesses and University of Hull research academics through programs like Prosperity Partnership in Offshore Wind, ORE Supergen Hub, and Aura Centre for Doctoral Training

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Aura operates the Aura Innovation Centre (AIC), a £12 million low-carbon innovation facility in the Humber region providing SMEs with advanced R&D facilities (InventX), flexible coworking space (AuraFleX), event and conference venue hire (ConneX), and facilitated access to University of Hull academic expertise, government-funded innovation grants, and offshore wind sector connections.

Product overview

Aura is a consortium led by the University of Hull, operating as a low-carbon innovation center in the Humber region. The portfolio consists of the core Aura Innovation Centre (AIC) facility — a £12m center providing workspace, R&D support, and funding facilitation — complemented by specialized modules: AuraFleX (flexible coworking space), InventX (advanced research and development facilities with equipment for electronics, materials, and manufacturing), and ConneX (venue hire with seven versatile event spaces). Additional offerings include SparkFund (SME funding), the Humber Internships Programme (talent matching), Future Net Zero (Net Zero advisory services), and the Aura Centre for Doctoral Training (PhD scholarships in offshore wind). The Festival of Green Innovation (FOGI) serves as an annual showcase event for regional green innovation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AuraFleX: Flexible coworking space in the Humber region for freelancers, startups, and established businesses with hot desks, dedicated desks, and AV-equipped meeting rooms.
• InventX
• Festival of Green Innovation (FOGI)
• ConneX

Products and services

• Aura Innovation Centre (AIC) A £12 million low-carbon innovation facility providing businesses with cutting-edge facilities, specialist funded support, and collaborative workspace to accelerate carbon-reducing innovations.
• AuraFleX Flexible coworking space offering hot desks, dedicated desks, and AV-equipped meeting rooms for freelancers, startups, and established businesses in the Humber region at £200/month.
• InventX Flexible research and development space providing businesses access to advanced equipment for electronics, materials analysis, and manufacturing prototyping, along with University of Hull academic expertise.
• ConneX Venue Hire Seven versatile event spaces available for hire, including conference rooms, boardroom, technology demonstration area, and mezzanine, with AV facilities included for conferences, meetings, workshops, exhibitions, and assessment centres.
• SparkFund Funding programme helping Humber SMEs improve or develop new products, services or processes.
• Humber Internships Programme (HIP) On-demand programme offering skills-matched degree-level talent for small-medium sized businesses for short-term or permanent hire.
• Aura Centre for Doctoral Training PhD scholarship programme in offshore wind energy and the environment, attracting brightest minds to develop cutting-edge research for environmental and engineering challenges.
• Future Net Zero Programme helping businesses understand and progress their journey to Net Zero, featuring surveys and research to identify support needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 654 businesses, researchers and individuals engaged through 268 workshops, briefings and events
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Siemens GamesacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership for UK first offshore wind degree apprenticeships. Aura Professor leads £1.25m project with Siemens Gamesa. Partner since 2019.
• Rhode IslandminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Contract signed with Rhode Island to export offshore wind expertise internationally. Humber and Rhode Island share pioneering spirit in offshore wind.
• ORE Supergen HubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018£5m ORE Supergen Hub funding in offshore wind. University of Hull and Aura part of hub bringing together 10 UK universities for offshore wind research leadership.
• ORE CatapultcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Signed deal with ORE Catapult for Operations Centre of Excellence in 2017
• ABP (Associated British Ports)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Advisory Board member. ABP operates Humber ports critical to offshore wind sector. Green Port Impact Assessment studied growth from ABP blade factory investment.
• University of HullcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Led by the University of Hull since Aura's inception in 2015. University provides research power and development capability. AIC is owned and delivered by University of Hull.
• Catapult Offshore Renewable EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory Board member. Works with ORE Catapult for Operations Centre of Excellence.
• Durham UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory Board member. Partner university in EPSRC funding bid and research collaborations.
• EquinorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory Board member. Major offshore wind developer operating in UK.
• OrstedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory Board member. Major offshore wind developer operating in UK.
• HEY LEP (Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory Board member. Key regional economic development organization.
• Prosperity Partnership in Offshore WindcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLarge academic R&D programme working to reduce cost of electricity generated by offshore wind.
• Flood Innovation CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister organization helping businesses become more flood resilient and supporting development of new products and services in flood resilience.
• SparkFundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister organization providing funding to help Humber SMEs improve or develop exciting new products, services or processes.
• Humber Internships Programme (HIP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister organization - on-demand programme offering skills-matched degree-level talent for SMEs for short-term or permanent hire.
• Ark (National Flood Resilience Centre)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between University of Hull and Humberside Fire & Rescue to deliver purpose-built National Flood Resilience Centre.
• Oh Yes! Net Zero CampaigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampaign aiming for Hull to lead way to net zero future. Aura is principle partner. Aim to unite city to reduce carbon emissions.
• Yorkshire & Humber Climate CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent advisory body bringing public, private and third sectors together to support ambitious climate actions across region.
• Waterline SummitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegion's flagship climate change summit - catalyst to raise awareness of challenges and opportunities for Humber.
• Humber Women in the WorkforceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject giving advice, training, direction and inspiration to women in Humber area who want more from their work or want to explore opportunities in new fields.
• Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAura team participates in OWIC working groups for offshore wind and decarbonisation.
• Humber FreeportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAura involved in Humber Freeport initiative for regional economic development.
• CATCH (Combined Authorities Trade and Cluster Hub)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional initiative that Aura participates in for trade and cluster development.
• IDRIC (Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Community)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and innovation community for industrial decarbonisation that Aura participates in.
• Humber Energy BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional energy board that Aura team actively participates in.
• Opportunity Humber BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional opportunity board that Aura participates in.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Innovate UK: UK's national innovation agency, providing grant funding, connections, and business support across all sectors. Comparable as the umbrella funder for innovation programmes in which Aura participates; broader scope than Aura's regional/niche focus but operates similar mechanisms (grants, business support, innovation networks).
• Centre for Process Innovation (CPI): UK Catapult network member operating a national network of innovation facilities for advanced manufacturing, materials, and biotech. Comparable as a Catapult-style innovation centre providing SMEs access to R&D equipment and expertise — though focused on different verticals than Aura's low-carbon/offshore wind remit.
• Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult: UK Catapult network member focused on compound semiconductor applications. Comparable as a Catapult-style R&D and innovation centre helping SMEs commercialise new technologies — though targeting a different deep-tech vertical than Aura.

Direct peers

• Energy Systems Catapult: UK Catapult network member focused on whole-energy-systems innovation, including decarbonisation and net zero advisory for businesses. Comparable as a publicly-funded innovation accelerator targeting energy transition, with a broader systems focus than Aura's regional cluster model.
• ORE Catapult: The UK's leading technology innovation and research centre for offshore renewable energy, operating a national network of test facilities and R&D capability. Directly comparable to Aura as a publicly-funded innovation hub serving offshore wind developers and supply chain — Aura's O&M Centre of Excellence is even operated in partnership with ORE Catapult.
• Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP): Industry-funded programme designed to help UK companies break into the offshore wind supply chain. Directly comparable to Aura's offshore wind supply-chain support services — in fact, OWGP is one of Aura's distribution channel partners.
• National Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC): Operates testing and R&D facilities for renewable energy technologies in the UK, including wind, marine, and smart grids. Comparable as a publicly-supported facility offering SMEs and developers access to advanced energy technology testing — closely aligned with Aura's InventX offering.
• Wave Hub: Marine energy test facility in Cornwall offering shared infrastructure for wave and tidal device developers. Comparable to Aura's InventX model as a publicly-funded shared R&D facility serving renewable energy developers and adjacent supply chain.

Regional players

• HEY Growth Hub: Hull and East Yorkshire's regional business growth hub offering business support, advice, and access to funding for SMEs in the same geography as Aura. Direct regional peer — in fact, Aura partners with HEY Growth Hub as a distribution channel for its services.

Others

• Siemens Gamesa: Major offshore wind turbine OEM operating the Hull blade factory and partnering with Aura on apprenticeship and R&D programmes. Comparable as a partner / customer (not direct competitor) — its presence in the Humber underpins Aura's regional supply-chain thesis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/_aurainnovation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aurainnovation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries6 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 Aura