The Campus Technology Hub is a modern and versatile living laboratory for SMEs to access expertise and equipment enabling radical new product development.
Your partner in product development
Our experts work consultatively with businesses, located at the facility and elsewhere, to rapidly translate new ideas into reality. SMEs benefit from a business ecosystem designed to utilise cutting-edge know-how to get the most out of digital technologies.
Our flexible approach to accommodating project work - whether it’s prototyping, product design or improving manufacturing processes - provides scaling businesses access to leading equipment, reducing the risks associated with the development and trial of new products. Our experts are on hand to provide impartial advice and support to explore the art of the possible, accelerating time to market.
Bringing business ideas to life
The support received from the ESA BIC UK and being part of STFC’s community has been incredibly useful. Not only the access to facilities and laboratory space but the technical and business support received has been fantastic. The opportunity to work alongside astronomers, engineers, as well as 3D printing and prototyping experts has been invaluable to our business. The Crover vision is to build a global business, which is focused on environmental and social impact.
Dr Lorenzo Conti, Crover
Crover
Scottish start-up Crover has developed world-first agricultural technology designed to reduce waste and save millions of tonnes of grain stock each year.
Crover accessed STFC’s additive manufacturing facility to enable it to identify and develop the bespoke components required for its design.
The additive manufacturing expertise from STFC has been extremely valuable and brought the ‘idea to life’ – moving the concept to the next stage of development
Patricia Porter, Buggy Assist Ltd ©
Buggy Assist Ltd ©
Buggy Assist Ltd © gained access to advice from STFC’s additive manufacturing team who provided the start-up with an understanding of appropriate materials, and the design and manufacturing processes, in particular, mechanical strain and pivot points to ensure the manufacture of a robust and safe product. The 3D printed prototype was tested to allow for further understanding of the challenges the business might encounter in the real world.
Working with the team at STFC has been a crucial stage in our journey so far, allowing us to explore options that have reduced costs and de-risked the transition of a concept to a physical prototype. We are excited to be able to move into the trial phase now and are seeking families to test out the latest update of the Kettle Companion.
Alex Lennon, Dynamic Devices.
Dynamic Devices - The Kettle Companion
Dynamic Devices, a premier provider of embedded integration services, is developing the ‘Kettle Companion’, an assisted living product that helps those who live apart to stay connected.
Accessing prototyping experts at the Science and Technology Facilities Council, via LCR4 START, allowed the Kettle Companion team to explore material use and the most appropriate additive manufacturing technique to produce prototypes.
As well as offering flexible space options depending on your requirements - from open-plan to lockable work benches and offices - an impressive range of equipment is available for use, spanning 3D printing, Virtual Reality, scanning technologies and more. SMEs can access a wide range of business support initiatives and activities, funding routes and on-site events, as well as the opportunity to connect into national and international networks.
It is our aim to support the scale-up of SMEs and we understand that accessing the right expertise, tools and connections are some of the key enablers to realising this growth.
More that 150 companies are located on campus, with 79% of them collaborating in 2020 generating over £12m in sales or cost savings.
SMEs can access, and benefit from, this wider collaborative ecosystem surrounding the Campus Technology Hub. Daresbury Laboratory's scientists and engineers have been pushing the boundaries of modern science for more than 50 years, and SMEs today benefit from working side-by-side pioneers and peers alike.
Get in touch
If you're interested in working alongside STFC as impartial collaborators to find the best solution for your product development, contact us today.
Email Emmanuel Dupuis emmanuel.dupuis@stfc.ac.uk
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