What we offer
A first home for early stage startups: high specification lab and office space, shared amenities, tailored business support and an established community – all under one roof.
Award-winning spaces and support
Science-ready workspaces
Tailored advice and introductions
A vibrant community
A partner: not just premises
The Incubator team makes everything happen. This allows us to focus on what matters to us, which is technology development and growing the business.
Chief Executive
RFC Power
Start smarter at Imperial Incubator
Lab space made easy
From a single co-working bench to a 70m2 lab, we have flexible workspace to meet your needs. Additionally, members have access to a shared equipment room and a well-stocked supply centre for pay-as-you-go consumables, making it quick and simple to get started.
Alongside wet lab space, there are private and shared offices, meeting rooms, phone booths and a refreshments area – all thoughtfully designed to bring people together.
Support to help you scale
Imperial’s Incubator is much more than just a workspace; it’s a support system ready to help you and your startup to thrive.
Founders gain access to free coaching and mentoring, on-site “Office Hours” drop-in sessions with subject matter experts, access to training, funding and accelerator opportunities and 1-to-1 investment readiness support.
Networking is intentional and impactful. We organise monthly socials, seminars and check-ins. Our team connects you to peers, academic experts, business partners and experienced alumni entrepreneurs – creating real opportunities for learning, collaboration and growth.
A community like no other
Imperial Incubator is backed by Imperial, a global top-ten university where science never stands still. Members benefit from unparalleled access to the advanced facilities, networks, talent pools and expertise of a world-leading STEM institution.
Awards
Incubator/Coworking Space of the Year 2025
Shortlisted UKSPA Best Small
Science Park 2024
Incubator/Coworking Space of the Year 2024
Incubator/Coworking Space of the Year 2022
Explore more
What we offer
Flexible, fully-equipped lab spaces, expert mentoring and business support, access to Imperial’s talent, research and networks - all within a vibrant, collaborative community of founders on a similar journey.
Who we support
The Incubator supports early-stage startups with flexible wet lab and office space in West London. Our curated community includes ventures working in sectors like medtech, climate solutions, biotech, sustainable fashion and therapeutics.
About us
Operated by Imperial College London - a global top ten university - we’re a non-profit incubator that gives new science a strong start. Early-stage startups tackling some of the world’s toughest challenges call us home.
Frequently asked questions
What types of startups are best suited to Imperial’s Incubator?
We welcome early-stage life science startups requiring wet lab space, such as those working in the fields of novel materials, biotechnology, diagnostics, therapeutics and synthetic biology.
What is included in the monthly licence fee?
Our licence covers access to shared lab benches or private lab space, a shared equipment room, co-working or private office space and infrastructure support such as Wi-Fi, waste disposal and mailroom services.
You say that terms are flexible. What’s the minimum contract duration?
We offer flexible contracts tailored to your stage of growth and evolving needs. Our usual contract duration is a one year license with a two month termination policy on either side.
How do I apply for space in the Incubator?
Please complete our online application form with details about your startup and space requirements in the first instance.
Applications are reviewed based on your stage of development, scientific merit, team strength and alignment with our mission, facilities and existing community.
How long can a startup be based at the Incubator for?
Most Members stay with us between 12 to 36 months, during which time they might have moved premises once or more within the Incubator (for example, from a shared facility to a private lab).
What happens if my startup outgrows the Incubator?
We support your transition into larger facilities through our network of property partners and can assist with planning your relocation.
Do you provide virtual office services?
No, we do not provide virtual office services for non-resident companies. Our support is designed specifically for startups that are actively working on-site within our lab and office spaces.
Do I need to have studied at Imperial for my startup to be considered?
No. We welcome both startups with an existing Imperial connection and those that are new to our community.
What are your safety training and compliance requirements?
All lab users must complete onboarding safety training, adhere to our operating procedures and comply with their own company’s health and safety protocols.
Can I bring in my own specialist lab equipment?
Yes, provided it meets our safety guidelines, has suitable utilities connections and fits within the boundaries of your space. All equipment must be approved by our Lab Manager before installation.
Do you provide access to core scientific equipment?
Absolutely. Our shared equipment room and labs offers access to commonly used instruments such as centrifuges, biosafety cabinets, fumehoods and cold storage (a full list is available upon request).
In addition, Members have access to wider specialist facilities through Imperial’s network such as the Hackspace, the Royce Institute and Agilent Suite (consult our “Innovation at Imperial” webpage for more details).
Is clinical waste disposal included?
Yes. We have clinical waste disposal process as part of your membership. All members are entitled to dispose of 4 free clinical bags per month and the cost thereafter will be £25 per bag.
Please note that chemical waste disposal must be arranged separately, as this is not a service we directly provide. Please contact us if you have a query or specific requirement regarding waste disposal.
Is there Wi-Fi and IT support included?
Yes. We offer secure, high-speed Wi-Fi. IT support is managed through the building owner (for example, Scale Space in White City).
What are the hours of lab access?
Members have 24/7 access to the labs and office areas (some restrictions may apply during Christmas and Easter). Out of office hours, each startup should have their own lone working policy in place if applicable.
What type of business support do you offer?
Members have access to a network of mentors, investors and industry experts. Regular programming includes business seminars, workshops and “meet the expert” sessions.
Can I hire interns and staff through the Incubator?
We are always happy to promote job vacancies on your behalf (for example in our newsletters and on our Linkedin channel, as well as via word of mouth).
The Scale Space Careers Fair offers startups a valuable chance to connect with Imperial's talented students, graduates and researchers - ideal for hiring, internships or building a future talent pipeline.
In addition, The White City Internship Fund gives startups the chance to tap into Imperial’s exceptional student talent. It supports summer internships (minimum eight weeks) focused on growth-driven projects, with businesses receiving a 50% salary contribution toward the cost.
Do you take an equity stake in my startup?
No, the Incubator does not take an equity stake in the startups it supports. For academic founders based at Imperial, the spinout formation process sets out terms and determines how much founding equity the university takes. For more information, visit the Founders Choice webpages.
Is funding available through the Incubator?
The Incubator does not directly fund startups, however we assist Members to access funding. For example the Enterprise Lab's Investment Services provides investment readiness support and our Members newsletter highlights relevant grant opportunities and open calls for competitions. We also host joint events with grant-awarding bodies such as Innovate UK.
Are there opportunities for collaboration among startups in the incubator?
Absolutely. We actively promote collaborating through monthly social events, regular seminars and networking opportunities. Members can also communicate directly via our WhatsApp group. Some of our members go on to do business together.
Are there any types of scientific work not permitted onsite?
Case study
Feeding the future
How Multus is making cultivated meat possible
Multus was started by four students in the departments of Life Sciences and Bioengineering, who met through Imperial’s Synthetic Biology Society. They set out to solve one of the biggest challenges in cultivated meat: developing a scalable, affordable growth medium specifically designed for the food industry. By streamlining the serum production process and exploring more efficient ways of providing cell nutrition using plant-based ingredients, their goal was to develop a replacement growth medium that would be animal-free, inexpensive and possible to produce in large quantities.
Starting out in Imperial’s Advanced Hackspace, the Multus team progressed through several of Imperial’s flagship entrepreneurship programmes before earning a place at IndieBio. This provided the investment to develop a first product and prepare for the next phase of fundraising.
In 2020, Multus joined the Incubator to accelerate product development. Since then, the company has raised £7.9 million in funding and secured a prestigious European Innovation Council Accelerator grant – the first ever awarded to a cultivated meat company. This enabled the creation of a manufacturing facility producing food-safe, animal-free growth media for cultivated meat. Multus’ facility is the first of its kind to achieve FSSC 22000 certification, marking a major step forward for food industry innovation.
Cai Linton, co-founder of Multus
What is cultivated meat?
Cultivated meat is produced from animal stem cells, which multiply when placed in a bioreactor and fed with a cell culture medium containing basic nutrients and growth factors. By varying the medium and providing some structure, the cells will diversify and develop into tissues equivalent to meat.