Hammersmith
London W6 9RH
Available from September 2025, Imperial Incubator has teamed up with ARC West London to create a new start-up incubator facility in a stunning riverside location.
Take your first leap
Leap: Powered by Imperial Incubator offers a high-spec co-working lab designed for scientists at the very earliest stages of their startup journey. Nestled on the bank of the Thames within ARC West London’s development, Leap provides access to individual lab benches, shared specialist equipment, expert guidance and scale-up programmes to help founders refine their ideas.
Co-located with ARC’s accelerator ‘Motherlabs‘, this combined resource supports early stage ventures as they move from concept to commercialisation. Motherlabs provides flexible follow-on space to enable companies to scale in one location.
ARC West London sits directly on the Thames Path, offering a scenic route for lunchtime strolls or an alternative way to commute. The campus is just a 10-minute walk from Hammersmith tube station, with fast and frequent access across London via the Hammersmith & City, Circle, Piccadilly and District lines.
Heathrow Terminals 1, 2 & 3 is approximately 30 minutes from Hammersmith via the Piccadilly line. By car, ARC West London is easily accessed from the M4/A4, the main arterial route linking London to Heathrow, the M25 and national motorway network.
Meet your neighbours
Leap: Powered by Imperial Incubator is well networked within London’s dynamic life sciences landscape and Imperial’s WestTech Corridor.
ARC West London is conveniently located close to two hospitals: Charing Cross Hospital is just 0.2 miles away and there is easy access to St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington via the Tube.
Hammersmith Hospital – a specialist hospital renowned for its strong research connections – is located approximately 3 miles away on Imperial College London’s Hammersmith Campus.
The Francis Crick Institute, UCL at King’s Cross and Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital are all within 30 minutes.
The area is home to an array of research centres, including the Children’s Clinical Research Facility, Imanova Centre for Imaging Science, Imperial Clinical Respiratory Research Unit, Imperial Clinical Trials Unit, Imperial Tissue Bank, NIHR Imperial Clinical Research Facility, Parkinson’s Disease Research Unit, Robert Hesketh Hepatology Clinical Research Unit, and the Women’s Health Research Unit.
Looking ahead, the Fleming Centre (set to open in 2028), will further strengthen the region’s status as a leader in healthcare research and development.
The Fleming Centre will harness scientific expertise and public engagement to tackle antimicrobial resistance from every angle. Clinicians will collaborate closely with microbiologists, AI specialists, behavioural scientists and policymakers – working side-by-side and in dialogue with the public – to combat the rise of drug resistance.
What’s here
- CL2 Incubator lab with 24 benches
- On-site lab supervisor
- Shared equipment room with specialist equipment including Autoclave 2 x ducted fumehoods, dishwasher, deionised water and ice machine
- Bookable meeting rooms
- Access to campus amenities including café, business lounge, conference facility, club room with roof terrace overlooking the river and Spokeworks (end of journey facility with over 200 bike racks/lockers repair station, shower and drying room)
Settle in and scale up
Leap is designed to help startups launch and grow at pace. With move-in ready labs, flexible tenancy terms and dedicated on-site support, we handle the operational details so you can focus on the science, not the set up.
Beyond the lab, ARC West London has inspiring social spaces designed to bring people together – from relaxed meetings in the on-campus café to casual catch ups in the landscaped community square. Within the surrounding neighbourhood, you’ll also find a variety of welcoming bars, global cuisine options and diverse retail outlets.
For downtime and team outings, nearby venues like the Eventim Apollo and Lyric Theatre showcase everything from world-class live music and comedy to new theatre. There are several gyms and fitness facilities within walking distance, and Members benefit from secure bike storage, showers and an on-site mechanic as well as yoga and exercise classes.
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?
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.
Our locations
Imperial’s Incubator spans strategic locations at the heart of WestTech London – one of the UK’s fastest-growing deep tech and life sciences clusters. Our inter-connected ecosystem helps startups grow quickly and sustainably.
About us
Operated by Imperial College London – a global top ten university – we’re a not-for-profit incubator that gives new science a strong start. Early-stage startups tackling some of the world’s toughest challenges call us home.