Future Space

Innovation with impact: How a UWE Bristol start-up is using wearable cooling technology to support women’s health

Rima Khatun | 20 March 202620 March 2026

A wearable device developed through three years of research and testing is helping women manage hot flushes – demonstrating how innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration can translate ideas into real-world impact.

For many women, hot flushes are one of the most disruptive symptoms of menopause – affecting sleep, confidence and day-to-day life. Yet, like many issues when it comes to women’s healthcare, practical solutions remain limited.

At UWE Bristol’s University Enterprise Zone, a start-up called MyCelsius has spent the past three years developing a wearable device designed to provide rapid cooling during hot flushes. The wrist-worn technology delivers targeted cooling within seconds, helping women manage symptoms in a discreet, non-medicinal way. The innovation combines engineering, user-centred design and real-world testing, supported by the innovation ecosystem across Launch Space, Future Space and the Bristol Robotics Laboratory.

For co-founders Max and Aonghus, the goal was clear: create a solution that genuinely improves women’s health and wellbeing.

The Problem

Hot flushes affect millions of women worldwide, yet the everyday impact of the symptom is often underestimated.

The idea behind MyCelsius began when co-founder Max experienced hot flushes linked to stress and anxiety. Early in the company’s journey, the founders joined an incubator programme with healthcare provider Bupa, where they gained deeper insight into the scale of the issue through conversations with women experiencing menopause.

What they heard was striking.

“Hot flushes can disrupt sleep, which leads to fatigue and insomnia,” explains Max. “That then affects concentration, productivity and mental wellbeing.”

For many women, existing solutions were limited.

While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) works well for some, it isn’t suitable or desirable for everyone. Outside of medical treatment, options were often limited to handheld fans or other temporary fixes.

“We realised there was a real gap,” Max says.

“Women deserve solutions that are effective, discreet and designed specifically with their needs in mind.”

The Innovation

Turning that idea into a viable product required extensive research and development.

Over nearly three years, the MyCelsius team conducted more than 1,000 tests and built hundreds of prototypes to refine the technology behind the device.

“We’ve worked with a community of hundreds of women going through menopause,” says co-founder Aonghus. “At every stage we tried to get prototypes onto people’s wrists so they could tell us how it should function, how it should look, and how it should feel.”

This user-centred design approach shaped every stage of development.

Early prototypes were large and bulky; they were functional, but impractical.

“We started with a big, ugly prototype strapped to someone’s wrist,” Aonghus laughs. “Even when it worked, people didn’t want to wear something that large.”

Over time, continuous testing and feedback helped the team refine the design, reducing the size while improving performance.

The result? A compact wearable device capable of delivering rapid cooling to the skin, helping to interrupt or reduce hot flushes. The system uses a miniaturised cooling mechanism designed to deliver significant temperature change within seconds.

Engineering that performance into such a small device was one of the biggest technical challenges.

“It’s easy to increase performance by making something bigger,” Max explains.

“The real challenge was maintaining that cooling power while keeping the device small, stylish and wearable.”

The Impact

Although still early in its journey, MyCelsius is already showing the potential of innovation driven by real user needs.

For the founders, the most rewarding part has been seeing the product make a difference in people’s lives.

“Designing something that genuinely helps people is what we’re most proud of,” says Aonghus.

“After years of development, seeing real users have a fantastic experience with it makes it all worthwhile.”

Voices from the Project

The journey from concept to market has not been straightforward.

“When we started, we genuinely didn’t know if the system was even feasible,” Max says.

Three and a half years later, the device has evolved dramatically.

“We started with something that looked like a prison tag. Now we have a stylish wearable product that’s helping people manage hot flushes.”

For the team, however, this is just the beginning.

“It feels too early to say we’ve achieved everything,” Max reflects. “You climb one mountain and then you see the next one behind it.”

Innovation at UWE Bristol

The MyCelsius journey has been closely connected to UWE Bristol’s innovation ecosystem.

The company has been based within Launch Space, part of the University Enterprise Zone, with additional support from Future Space and the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL).

These environments provide access to workspaces, specialist facilities, technical expertise and business networks that help early-stage companies accelerate their development.

“We’ve been incredibly fortunate to be part of Launch Space, Future Space and BRL,” says Aonghus. “At Launch Space we have access to offices, labs and workshops. At BRL we can learn from experts in electronics and robotics. And Future Space connects us with an incredible network that helps us solve challenges.”

Max agrees the support has been transformative.

“It’s given us the infrastructure and foundation we needed to build the company.”

What’s Next?

Having launched the product recently, the next goal is simple: reach more people.

“We want to get MyCelsius onto as many wrists as possible,” says Max.

As more users adopt the technology, the team plans to continue gathering feedback and refining the product – ensuring the innovation continues to evolve alongside the needs of the people it serves.

For the founders, one milestone stands out.

“The moment I’m looking forward to,” Max says, “is seeing someone wearing MyCelsius out in the street.”

You can learn more about MyCelsius and the technology behind the wearable cooling device.

Discover more RISE stories showing how research, innovation, skills and enterprise at UWE Bristol are creating real-world impact.

Innovation with impact: Matthew Freeman, Bridging Universities and Start-ups

ripleywk | 14 November 202514 November 2025

In this blog, Professor Matt Freeman, Centre Director of Future Space, UWE Bristol’s innovation centre for high-tech businesses, shares his journey from academic to start-up founder to university-business innovation leader, reflecting on what it truly takes to bridge these worlds and make collaboration thrive.

If you had met me a few years ago, I might have introduced myself as Professor Matt Freeman, a digital media academic who published books and led research at a university. I spent over a decade in academia, from completing a PhD and lecturing, all the way to running a research centre, leading REF and becoming a professor. Yet, despite the publications and promotions, I realised that being an academic was never really about the research for me, it was always about the role of innovation.

Along the way, I’ve learned a few lessons about what it takes to make university-business partnerships thrive. In this blog, I want to share those insights with both my university colleagues and our industry partners. My hope is that these reflections can spark ideas on how we innovate together across the academia-industry divide.

My journey from academia to entrepreneurship

My personal turning point came during a secondment to a £6.8m university-business R&D partnership (Bristol+Bath Creative R+D, itself led by UWE Bristol). There, I fell in love with bringing together commercial businesses, academic research, knowledge exchange and fresh student minds under one collaborative effort. I saw first hand how powerful it is when ideas developed in universities get tested and applied by industry and vice versa. In fact, I loved it so much that I took the leap into entrepreneurship myself. In 2021 I founded Immersive Promotion Design, an R&D-led marketing consultancy to help virtual and augmented reality creatives put cutting-edge ideas into practice. That experience, applying research insights to real business challenges; taught me more about bridging academia and industry than any journal paper ever could.

Fast-forward to today: I now run Future Space, an innovation centre on UWE Bristol’s Frenchay campus, where we support 70+ high-tech start-ups. It’s a role that lets me combine both identities: the academic and the entrepreneur, to drive university-partnered innovation. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that innovation is never a ‘bolt-on’ to business, it’s an all-encompassing reimagining of what can be done and how.

What makes innovation partnerships succeed

Working at the intersection of academia and industry, I’ve seen some partnerships soar and others stall. Success isn’t automatic; university-business collaboration doesn’t happen by accident. There are two ingredients that I believe make all the difference:

Physical proximity and shared goals: Firstly, both sides need to be committed to a common purpose. The most successful collaborations I’ve led weren’t transactions, they were true partnerships built on trust and aligned vision. A recent national evaluation of University Enterprise Zones reinforced this: Place-based innovation infrastructure can work. A chat by the campus coffee shop can spark a R&D project or a hire, but only when paired with clear sector focus and active engagement. In short, everyone needs to row in the same direction.

Bridge-builders and brokers: Secondly, successful innovation partnerships need people who can speak both ‘languages’ and broker the relationship. In many ways, that’s become my job description. Universities and companies often have different cultures and timelines, so you need dedicated translators to connect the dots. It takes skilled facilitation to turn an introduction into a funded R&D project. Having a team with the skills and capacity to broker relationships and deliver tailored business support is critical.

Bridging cultural gaps between universities and industry

Even when the will to collaborate is there, cultural and structural barriers can get in the way. I’ve lived in both worlds, so I know the misconceptions that academics and business folks sometimes hold about each other. Universities can see industry as too fast paced and profit driven; businesses can see academia as an ivory tower too slow to adapt. The reality is, both worlds do things differently, and together they can offer different insights and value. Recognising this is the first step to bridging the gap.

One major difference is how each measures success. Academia rewards rigour, depth and publication. Industry rewards speed, customer satisfaction and revenue. Neither approach is ‘better’ outright – they are just different. The key is finding ways to reconcile these approaches. For example, at Future Space we pair 121 business support (an industry-style, bespoke approach) with one-to-many support like workshops and student projects (a university-style approach). Rather than argue over which is superior, there’s plenty of room for both models to co-exist, delivering richer support together.

Communication is another common barrier. Academics speak in terms of theories and long term impact; entrepreneurs speak in MVPs and quarters. We’ve learned to build a common language, often around solving concrete problems. Framing a collaboration around a shared challenge (say, prototyping a new medical device or testing a software algorithm) helps both sides see the value. I always remind my academic peers that innovation needs research but research should not be done in isolation. We need to get research ideas out of the classroom or even the journals and into real use. Likewise, I reassure start-ups that tapping into university expertise isn’t about getting bogged down; it’s about supercharging and validating their product with insight and evidence.

What universities and start-ups can learn from each other

Having one foot in a university and the other in the start-up world has convinced me that universities and start-ups actually have a lot more in common than people think… and a lot to teach each other. In fact, as pressures mount on higher education, universities may increasingly need to think like start-ups to survive and fulfil their mission.

What does that mean in practice?

For universities learning from start-ups: It means embracing agility, customer-focus and a willingness to adapt. Start-ups thrive by being lean and pivoting quickly when something isn’t working. Universities, by contrast, often carry heavy legacy structures that resist change. But universities can adopt a more market oriented mindset, tuning in closely to what students (the customers) and employers (the market) need. That could mean updating curricula faster, focusing on practical skills, or even launching entirely new bite size boot camp style programmes in response to emerging fields. In short, academia can borrow the start-up ethos of ‘adapt or perish’, staying mission driven, but being willing to reinvent how we deliver on that mission.

For start-ups learning from universities: I’d argue there’s an equally valuable lesson in the other direction. Start-ups can benefit from the depth of research and the long term thinking that universities are built on. In the rush to ship product, start-ups sometimes skip the step of truly understanding why something works or doesn’t. University expertise can provide that rigour, whether it’s a data science start-up tapping into a professor’s algorithm knowledge, or a biotech venture using university lab facilities to validate their tech. Moreover, universities train people to question assumptions and think critically, a useful check against the exuberance of start-up culture. In our innovation centre, I’ve seen start-ups gain huge advantages by engaging with faculty and students: they access state-of-the-art facilities and research labs, collaborate with experts on R&D, and plug into a pipeline of talent by recruiting graduates and interns.

As I often say, when a start-up partners with a university, it’s like getting a ‘sage’ on board. Someone who values knowledge and education as the path to breakthroughs. Conversely, the university benefits by partnering with a ‘hero’ within innovation, nurturing new companies that make the world better. Both sides win by combining the Sage’s wisdom and the Hero’s drive. By learning from each other, agility from start-ups, and research depth from universities we can each become more effective in our missions.

My offer to you

I want to close on a personal note. Having navigated this path from academia to entrepreneurship and back into the fold of university-business collaboration, I’m making an offer to you. Whether you’re an academic, a business leader, or both:

I commit to being a bridge-builder. If you’re an academic with an idea that could have commercial impact, or a business seeking academic insight, my door is open. I will use my position to help connect you with the right people, be it researchers or partners. Bridging the gap between our two worlds is my passion, and I’ll gladly play the translator to get a partnership off the ground.
I commit to sharing lessons (including the hard ones). Innovation isn’t all success stories. There will be setbacks and failures. I promise to be candid about what doesn’t work and to foster a culture where we learn from mistakes. Whether it’s through my own Innovate Together think-piece (published monthly on LinkedIn) or a casual coffee chat, I’ll share the insights I’ve gained (and the scars I’ve earned) so that we can all innovate smarter together.
I commit to championing change. Within my university and in my interactions with others, I’ll continue to challenge the status quo that hinders collaboration. That means advocating for more flexible policies, celebrating engaged academic and industry-savvy students, and pushing for initiatives that make partnership the norm, not the exception. Institutions only change when people inside them drive the change – consider me fully on board for that mission.

Ultimately, my offer is partnership. Let’s break down the barriers and unleash more innovation. The challenges our society faces are too complex for one sector to solve alone. But I truly believe that by combining the curious minds in universities with the daring doers in business, we can create solutions neither could achieve independently.

Find out about the amazing work at future space and how you can get involved.

Nurturing Deep Tech Success: UWE Bristol’s long-term support propels Altered Carbon to new heights.

Anna Jones | 12 November 202412 November 2024

‘SmartScent. A portable & compact scent monitoring device housing Altered Carbon’s latest AI-powered chip.’

In the fast-paced world of technology startups, deep tech ventures face unique challenges. Resolving complex technical issues, securing adequate funding, and transitioning from concept to commercial operation demands time, resources, and unwavering patience.

At UWE Bristol, we understand these challenges and have committed to providing long-term support to innovative deep-tech startups. One shining example of this commitment is our partnership with Altered Carbon, a company revolutionizing scent detection technology.

The Altered Carbon Journey

Founded by UWE Bristol alumnus Ali Rohafza, Frazer Barnes and Sam Onwugbenu, Altered Carbon has been on a remarkable journey of growth and innovation. From its early days in UWE Bristol’s Launch Space and Bristol Robotics Laboratory incubators to its current home in our Future Space Innovation Centre, the company has flourished with consistent support from the university. Ali Rohafza affirms this support:

“Without doubt, we would not have been able to achieve what we have without the support of UWE. Our partnership with UWE Bristol has impacted every stage of our journey; mentoring, offices laboratories and workshops, research collaboration, working with students, and finding new staff!”

Today, Altered Carbon boasts a team of 11 staff, with 9 being proud UWE Bristol graduates. This success story exemplifies the power of nurturing talent within the university ecosystem and providing continued support as startups evolve.

Groundbreaking Technology

At the heart of Altered Carbon’s success is its innovative scent detection technology. Using patented graphene chips and an AI platform capable of learning and distinguishing between good and bad scents, the company has developed a system that can detect gases, volatile organic compounds, and complex scent compounds. This technology has wide-ranging applications; from fire detection, food waste management, wound infection and mould detection.

The potential of this technology hasn’t gone unnoticed. Altered Carbon recently closed a £1.3 million investment round, building upon £800,000 of Innovate UK grant finance and previous investments totalling £1 million. This financial backing is a testament to the company’s innovative approach and market potential.

UWE Bristol’s Comprehensive Support

UWE Bristol’s relationship with Altered Carbon spans over six years, demonstrating our commitment to long-term partnerships with promising deep-tech startups.

Our support has been multifaceted, including:

Start-up support and incubation services through Launch Space and the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) Hardware Incubator
Access to state-of-the-art facilities at the Future Space Innovation Centre
Collaborative projects with our Health Technology Hub and BRL’s Robotic Innovation Facility
Academic collaboration with the School of Applied Science.
A steady pipeline of talented graduates and undergraduate interns.

Mark Corderoy, UWE Bristol’s Entrepreneur in Residence, emphasizes the importance of this approach:

“At UWE, we don’t just incubate startups; we try to nurture long-term partnerships. Our sustained support for companies like Altered Carbon creates a win-win scenario, driving innovation while providing invaluable real-world experiences for our students and researchers.”

Mutual Benefits

The partnership between UWE Bristol and Altered Carbon exemplifies the mutual benefits that can arise from long-term collaboration between universities and startups:

For Altered Carbon:

Access to cutting-edge facilities and expertise
A talent pool of graduates and interns
Support through various stages of growth and development

For UWE Bristol:

Funding for two PhD positions
Provision of 20 paid internships for undergraduates
Real-world experience and employment opportunities for students and graduates

The Power of Sustained Support

Deep tech development is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. The success of Altered Carbon underscores the importance of sustained support in nurturing groundbreaking innovations. By providing a comprehensive ecosystem that supports startups from incubation to scale-up, UWE is playing a crucial role in driving technological advancements and economic growth in the region.

As we look to the future, the Altered Carbon success story serves as a blueprint for university-startup collaborations in the deep tech sector. It demonstrates that with the right support, patience, and perseverance, transformative technologies can emerge from university ecosystems, creating value for businesses, students, and society at large.

At UWE Bristol, we remain committed to fostering such partnerships, supporting the next generation of innovators, and contributing to the vibrant deep tech landscape in the UK and beyond.

Latest News

Altered Carbon has just been announced overall winner at the United Nations World Food Forum Startup Innovation Awards in Rome (October 2024).

Future Space win at the techSPARK annual awards

Anna Jones | 16 July 202416 July 2024

Last week Future Space won the Community Award at techSPARK annual awards, the SPARKies. Future Space is an innovation centre and community hub for start-ups and fast-growth high tech businesses in the heart of our University Enterprise Zone.

Located at UWE Bristol, Future Space currently comprises 50+ trailblazing science and tech businesses, and with the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, the Centre for Print Research, the Health Tech Hub and the Launch Space accelerator form the UWE Bristol University Enterprise Zone.

Since its inception, Future Space has generated:

£100+ million in investment brought to Bristol

500+ jobs across the sector

£27.5 million GVA for the local economy

140 tech projects supported by the university

305 new and improved products and services

500+ hours of one-to-one business support

56 internship opportunities for students

Future Space has recently opened another 10,000 square feet of office and lab space. Seven new labs and 12 new offices will offer space for up to 130 new people – increasing the centre’s capacity to support up to 70 businesses and bringing new jobs and opportunities to Bristol.

Members of the innovation hub put its success down to community collaboration. Ali Rohafza, Founder of Altered Carbon recalls how they once needed to run trials to find out if their product worked, but they couldn’t afford expensive trials at the start. It’s a catch-22: without the trials, says Ali, ‘no one would give you investment without that proof. So, we [ran the] tests at UWE to find out if it worked. And if it did, amazing, then we got the investment.’

Ali is just one of the many businesses that benefits from the established business support at Future Space led by owners Oxford Innovation, as well as the support from the community’s partners across the city.

Professor Matt Freeman, Centre Director of Future Space, commented on the win:

‘It’s an honour to be recognised by techSPARK, particularly this year after everything we’ve done: expanding both in size and in the scope of our ambitions, we’re on a mission to create the best university-partnered home for tech start-ups in the South West, providing the space, support and spark needed to push a growing a business towards the forefront of its sector.’

The win comes as Future Space celebrates their 8^th birthday.

University Enterprise Zone supports over 100 innovation start-ups and contributes £17m to Bristol economy, report shows

Anna Jones | 26 January 202225 January 2022

More than 100 innovative businesses have been supported by Future Space, launched just five years ago in 2016 by the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), a new report has revealed.

Managed for the university by Oxford Innovation, Future Space provides office space, labs, workshops, and co-working space at the heart of the University’s main Frenchay Campus.

One of four University Enterprise Zones (UEZ) set up nationally, it was intended to build bridges between innovative, fast growth businesses, academic researchers, and students, sparking new ideas and opportunities.

This new report reveals that the UEZ has supported more than 100 innovative businesses to create 240 new products and services in the region. Between them, the businesses located at the UEZ have raised almost £45m in finance, created 427 jobs and contributed almost £17m to the local economy.

Future Space businesses include university spinouts, student start-ups as well as high tech, science-based businesses attracted from across the UK and internationally. The team behind the space took home the Community Award at last year’s local SPARKies Awards, recognising their contribution to the Bristol tech cluster.

Over 40 UWE Bristol students have completed internships with these businesses, and more than 20 UWE Bristol graduates have gone on to be employed on a permanent basis.

The news comes shortly after Bristol was named the most innovative city in the UK outside of London, while UWE Bristol was named on a list of universities in the UK that have produced the most start-ups.

As well as demonstrating the key role Future Space has played in powering innovation in the region, the report highlights that this success has been achieved due to close collaboration with their members, with UWE Bristol, and with their neighbours the Bristol Robotics Lab and the Health Tech Hub.

Future Space five years impact video

Jo Stevens, Managing Director for Oxford Innovation, says:

“Oxford Innovation are delighted to partner with UWE Bristol at Future Space and very proud of what has been achieved there by the team, in supporting so many innovative businesses to grow and create so many new products and services.

Innovation is the lifeblood of growth in the UK, and Future Space is a great example of the impact that can be achieved through real collaboration between academia and business.

We can’t wait to see what the next five years will bring.”

Martin Boddy, Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise at UWE Bristol

“UWE Bristol is particularly proud of Future Space, the businesses it supports and the links that we have built between leading-edge, high-tech businesses, university researchers and our students.

We’re committed to working with and supporting businesses across the region, and Future Space has enabled us to do that on a much deeper level and with real impact.

Future Space has provided many excellent opportunities for our students and the wider community. Joint research has created innovation and jobs, and it has played a huge part in us championing and driving innovation across the region”

CASE STUDY: Indus Fusion – from start-up incubator to health tech innovators

One of the businesses supported by Future Space is Indus Fusion, who hit the headlines recently for their innovative vaccine preparation device. Co-Founder of the business, Arthur Keeling, started out as a student at UWE Bristol where he studied on the Team Entrepreneurship course for three years.

“This course allows you to learn everything you need to set up and run a business alongside your studies.” Arthur says. “When I left university, I wanted to try out a few of the business ideas that I had. Because of the connection between UWE Bristol and Future Space I was able to join the Launch Space incubator programme and get one-to-one mentoring and support to develop these ideas.

“Once we’d developed our ideas into a clear business plan, we were able to apply for funding and investment, which enabled us to grow. We moved into Future Space permanently, where we were able to tap into support from the Bristol Robotics Lab to scope out ideas and access equipment.” Indus Fusion is now focusing on how automation can improve the service in sectors such as food, health and care. Their automated vaccine preparation device is currently being tested in NHS Covid-19 vaccine clinics, with early trials indicating a 40 per cent increase in roll-out capacity.”

UWE Bristol’s contribution to climate action and sustainability

Anna Jones | 3 November 20213 November 2021

As the UK host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), we look at how UWE Bristol are contributing to climate action and sustainability:

With 40,000 students and 3500 employees, we are well aware of our impacts in terms of sustainability and carbon reduction – and well aware of our responsibilities.

We recognised the Climate and Species Extinction Emergencies in 2020, with our board of governors formally signing up to this commitment. Our 2030 UWE Bristol strategy sets out a clear commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030 across key areas. The strategy sets out our commitments across:

Carbon neutrality
Reducing water and energy use, waste
Aim to eliminate single use plastic – signed up to UK Plastics Pact
Working towards Clean air and smoke free campuses
Looking for year on year reductions in non-sustainable travel
Embedding awareness of carbon reduction and sustainability across all of our programmes and prioritising research that addresses these issues

Below is a small snapshot of some of the support we offer businesses and processes we are putting in place to achieve our 2030 carbon neutral goals:

Skills for Clean Growth

Skills for Clean Growth, in partnership with NatWest, will help address the skills needed to deliver the West of England’s net zero ambitions and vision for clean and inclusive growth. It will support SMEs in the region adapt and change as they transition to a low carbon economy, providing the leadership skills needed to build a clean growth strategy; and the knowledge and tools to achieve sustainability.

UWE Bristol and NatWest have shared values around supporting SMEs to achieve net zero, in support of West of England’s ambition to be a driving force for clean and inclusive growth, committing to net zero carbon by 2030.

The scheme, funded by WECA (Workforce for the Future) will address these challenges:

Increased demand for green skills – Harnessing the opportunities for innovation and growth
Growth in low carbon economy – predicted 11% a year
Creation approx. one million jobs nationally
Adaption required by high carbon sectors (e.g. building and construction)
Mismatch between what is currently provided and what employers need

Innovation support for SMEs

UWE Bristol works in partnership with WECA to identify the growth and regeneration needs of the region, focusing our activity on strategically important sectors such as Clean Growth.

UWE Bristol has designed, developed, and delivered targeted programmes to support the growth of the region’s strategic priority sectors. We have secured a series of multi-million pound EU funded projects to channel capital grants and business support to SMEs across the region in support of innovation and growth. These have secured £11m for the region, leveraged over £10m of private investment and the university has invested over £3m in these programmes.

Over the past 3 years, UWE Bristol has channelled more than 100 innovation grants – worth £7m and attracting £8m in private sector investment – to fast-growth businesses through our Innovation 4 Growth Programme and other targeted initiatives. This has secured nearly 1,000 new jobs in the region. The success of this activity is communicated across the local innovation ecosystem and feeds into the design and delivery of our portfolio of future business support programmes including our new Digital Innovation Fund.

Case study:

Collecteco works in partnership with UWE Bristol to donate surplus furniture and equipment to good causes and has generated over £363,000 social value and avoided 67 tonnes of CO2 in 2021. They said: “UWE’s support has been invaluable and has ranged from facilitating Scale 4 Growth funding through to them partnering with us to donate surplus furniture and equipment from their estate”

University Enterprise Zone (UEZ)

The University Enterprise Zone(UEZ) based on UWE Bristol’s Frenchay Campus, provides high quality space for 80+ high tech start-up and scaling businesses, employing in excess of 300 people, with access to a robust and vibrant investment community. It is on target to generate 500 jobs, and more than £50m for the local economy. These businesses are supported through targeted innovation support and growth advice. Focus/gateway is on digital, HealthTech, bioscience and low carbon SMEs.

Case Study:

Inheriting Earth (in Future Space) is a sustainable product design company set up by Adam Root, with the mission to stop the flow of new plastic entering our water, trapping plastics shed by clothes in washing machines. They successfully grew their business, attracted investment and recently outgrew Future Space and moved on into their own premises. Read more about Inheriting Earth.

Albotherm is another Future Space business and they are focusing on developing technology that provides a solution to address climate change. Albotherm was founded by a team of scientists turned entrepreneurs in 2020 with a vision to bring our planet one step closer to carbon neutral and ensure future food security with their passive cooling technology. They have developed coatings for glass that respond to light and heat and control thermal gain, which reduce the need for air con.

Student Accommodation

We are developing a 2,200 bed student accommodation complex on Frenchay campus, which will be built to Passivhaus standards, the biggest development in Europe built to this exacting energy efficiency standard. The accommodation will have Air-tight fabric combined with air-heat pumps and solar panels. The accommodation will have high air quality and, low running costs, and will also be affordable.

Our Students

We aim to embed understanding of sustainability and carbon literacy across all of our programmes not just the many which are more obviously of direct relevant to the built environment, like environmental management and engineering. Professor Jim Longhurst, Assistant Vice Chancellor Environment and Sustainability, commented “They are probably ahead of us any anyway, but if we can embed this understanding in all our students they will be committed ambassadors for the next 40,50, 60 years. They are the future – but the future is coming faster than we might like”.

Find out more about Sustainability at UWE Bristol

Future Space wins Community Award

Anna Jones | 20 October 202120 October 2021

Last week the Future Space team won the Community Award at The SPARKies. This award is presented to an individual or company doing the most to support the whole tech community in the West.

The nomination recognised the work being done in collaboration with UWE Bristol – Over the last five years, Future Space has supported 43 students to get hands-on experience working for some of Bristol’s most innovative businesses, with more than 20 graduates now employed in the Future Space community.

Parm Cory-Jones, Centre Manager, has been with Future Space for five years and been part of the journey they’ve been on. Parm commented that:

“It’s been an amazing five years of growth. I feel we’re unique due to our location, opportunities and the fact we have support from a thriving University. We’re proud to be able to receive this award and it’s a wonderful way to mark the end of our first five years”

Aimee Skinner, Innovation Manager, joined in 2020 and has focused on building connections between businesses and the University, as well as running new innovation and business support initiatives, such as a virtual in-residence advisory programme. Aimee said:

“It’s great to be able to support so many innovative companies on their journey, and at the same time we’re creating opportunities for young talent in the region through our internship programmes. We’re delighted to win the Community award, and it is fantastic recognition of the work that goes on at Future Space.”

Parm Cory-Jones, Centre Manager and Aimee Skinner, Innovation Manager Future Space.

Future Space also sponsored the FutureSPARK award. This is awarded to individuals who are under 25, an employee of a tech company, post grad or entrepreneur. The individuals have to demonstrate true commitment and initiative within the tech and digital community and who is seen to have the potential to go far in the industry.

The winner this year was one of UWE Bristol’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) associates, Hannah Dockings. Hannah is a Research Engineer in Artificial Intelligence–KTP Associate with Flexys. Flexys is based at Future Space and is a specialist debt collection software supplier, that cover design, research and development, delivery and support.

Aimee Skinner, Innovation Manager, Future Space and Hannah Dockings,
UWE Bristol KTP associate with Flexys

The SPARKies

These awards bring together the South West region’s tech and digital community to celebrate the best startups, designs, hardware and people. They are organised by TechSPARK, a not-for-profit network dedicated to connecting, educating and strengthening the digi-tech cluster in the West. TechSPARK works with tech and digital businesses from Startups to Scaleups, SME’s to Global Corporations based in the region to help them to grow.

Future Space is part of the University Enterprise Zone led by UWE Bristol. Based at the heart of the main UWE Bristol campus, Future Space offers a range of office space, shared and dedicated laboratories, workshops and coworking facilities designed specifically for high-tech, science based entrepreneurs and innovators.

The onsite Innovation Team connects entrepreneurs and tech innovators with scientists, researchers and graduate talent – to spark collaboration, innovation and growth. Run by Oxford Innovation, they bring innovative coaching together with strategic partners and specialist advisors, to deliver high-quality business support services and events for the Future Space community.

For further information about how Future Space can help your business please get in touch

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

The Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) scheme is a UK-wide programme helping businesses to improve competitiveness and productivity. You bring the ambition and strategic vision to transform your business, and UWE Bristol will provide the practical graduate support, applied knowledge and technical expertise to help you achieve your goals.

For further information about how your business could benefit from Knowledge Transfer Partnerships please get in touch .

Read our KTP case studies for more information.

Congratulations to Future Space on winning the Community Award at the Sparkies awards!
UWE Bristol are so proud of our partnership with Future Space and our achievements together. We were also delighted to hear that Hannah Dockings our KTP Associate was recognised and awarded for her superb work at Flexys, winning the FutureSpark Award.
UWE Bristol’s Knowledge Transfer Partnerships are a key example of how business, students and academics benefit from the value of collaborative working.
Lucy Wicksteed, Head of Business Innovation and Skills, Research, Business and Innovation, UWE Bristol.

UWE Bristol’s Launch Space Incubator cohort takes off!

Anna Jones | 12 October 202120 October 2021

The University of the West of England‘s 2021 Launch Space incubator cohort gathered for their induction last week at Future Space – Bristol. The day was led by Mark Corderoy from UWE Bristol and Aimee Skinner from Oxford Innovation.

Launch Space is for aspiring entrepreneurs and early stage businesses and is home to high-tech, innovative start-ups with a strong focus on research and development. The residents receive free business support, incubation, and acceleration services.

The group started off the day with a welcome from Tracey John, Director of Research, Business and Innovation, before hearing first hand from Arthur Keeling of indus four about their journey from UWE Bristol, to Launch Space, and into their current office at Future Space.

Next up were talks from key members of UWE Bristol’s University Enterprise Zone, including Shaun Jordan from RIF Bristol, and David Attwood from the Health Tech Hub, as well as the chance to speak with Andy Johnson from the Centre for Print Research about the fascinating work going on in their new location at Frenchay campus. After lunch, the group were thrown in at the deep end, delivering 90 second pitches to each other!

There were some seriously exciting #ideas, #innovations, and #entrepreneurs in the room, and we’re looking forward to seeing how they progress over the coming months.

‘As founder of VisitMôr, I am really excited to be on the UWE Launch Space business accelerator. The expertly led programme offers access to unparalleled specialist, technical and business support. It’s perfect to nurture the development of our new interpretation and visitor experience products — these will be designed to help the museum, heritage, and conservation sectors to tell their own stories. We are also thrilled to be sharing our Launch Space journey with a talented cohort of fellow business pioneers; it will be great to share ideas amongst peers.’
Beth Môrafon, Founder/Director VisitMôr Ltd and Launch Space Resident.

Beth Môrafon, founder and director of VisitMôr, a public realm and visitor experience consultancy

“Launch Space has been an excellent asset for myself and my business so far. The support from the mentors has been invaluable and the opportunity to learn from other entrepreneurs and share experiences with them has been amazing.”
Guy Thurlow, Co-Founder and Client Director, TargetStudent and Launch Space Resident.

Guy Thurlow, Co-Founder and Client Director Target Student, offering digital advertising platforms for business brands in student accommodation.

Future Space Business produces technology to help tackle sustainability and climate change issues

Anna Jones | 5 October 20215 October 2021

Future Space is part of UWE Bristol’s University Enterprise Zone. They aim to drive the University’s ambitions to prepare students with entrepreneurial skills, spark collaboration between UWE researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs and commercialise the latest research.

Professor Steve West, UWE Bristol Vice-Chancellor and President, said:

“This is the latest venture that sets us apart as a technology-based university focused on generating opportunities for business growth and collaboration.
There is no doubt in my mind that fostering an entrepreneurial atmosphere on our campus is a win for our students and our research community, as we know that by collaborating and nurturing business we create a climate of innovation that has a ripple effect.”

Future Space is part of one of four University Enterprise Zones in the UK. The West of England University Enterprise Zone provides facilities and services to companies specialising in robotics, biosciences, medical technologies and other high tech sectors.

Albotherm is a member of Future Space and they are focusing on developing technology that provides a solution to address climate change.

Here’s their story:

Albotherm was founded by a team of scientists turned entrepreneurs in 2020 with a vision to bring our planet one step closer to carbon neutral and ensure future food security with their passive cooling technology.

Air conditioning alone currently accounts for 20% of electricity usage from buildings and this is expected to triple by 2050 due to rising global temperatures. Using fossil fuel derived energy for air conditioning traps us in a ‘Catch 22’ as we are further warming our planet, creating even more demand for cooling.

At Albotherm we are developing coatings based on novel polymer chemistry that reversibly transition from transparent to white, passively cooling the structure they coat by reflecting solar radiation in hot weather. We can control the trigger temperature this transition occurs at, between 18 ℃ and 45 ℃ to create optimal conditions in a range of climates. Our technology works without electrical input, cutting down carbon emissions associated with air conditioning and removing our reliance on fossil fuels.

Our first product is a glass coating aimed at the Greenhouse Horticulture market. Greenhouses are designed to extend our growing seasons by increasing growing temperatures during colder months, hence the term “The Greenhouse effect”, however they are consequently prone to overheating in the Summer months.

Currently, greenhouses are painted with chalk based white paints each summer. This is a labour intensive process and also means light levels are reduced even on cooler summer days. Unlike these solutions, our coatings only turn white to shade crops when they risk being damaged by heat. This protects crops while maximising light levels in cooler days, boosting yields in an industry that has historically struggled with razor thin margins.

In the future, we plan to develop products for commercial buildings to reduce carbon emissions associated with air conditioning. At the moment air conditioning accounts for 20% of electricity usage from buildings and 10% of total global electricity usage. By applying our technology to windows and roofs, we can significantly reduce energy usage from these buildings to protect against the impacts of climate change.

Furthermore, another key benefit of our technology is the ease with which it can be retro-fitted. More than half of current global building stock will remain standing in 2050. On top of that, two thirds of UK homes do not meet energy efficiency standards. Is it essential that we improve the sustainability of the buildings we currently have and retrofitting is the only way to do that. As our technology is applied as a coating, it can be easily sprayed onto existing and new buildings.

To get in touch with Albotherm please click here

University Enterprise Zone Spotlight: Future Space

Anna Jones | 23 August 202123 August 2021

Future Space is one of four areas that make up UWE Bristol’s University Enterprise Zone. The below spotlight explains a bit about them:

Who we are

Future Space is an innovation centre, based on UWE Bristol‘s Frenchay campus, within the University Enterprise Zone. The centre offers a range of office space, laboratories, workshops, and coworking facilities designed specifically for high-tech, science-based entrepreneurs and innovators. Future Space is managed by Oxford Innovation, the UK’s largest operator of innovation centres, and manages a growing network of over 25 innovation centres in the UK.

A former head chef, a PhD in cancer genetics, and one of the region’s top 75 innovators; just some of the eclectic accolades of our Future Space Team. With a wealth of experience in business, and managing lab and workspace, we’re on hand to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses.

What we offer to business

There are many reasons why Future Space is a fantastic location for growing science and technology businesses: Purpose built laboratories; Customisable workshops; and a range of flexible offices and shared spaces. A distinct advantage is the positioning of the centre – on UWE Bristol campus and co-located with the Health Tech Hub and Bristol Robotics Laboratory.

We also have an onsite Innovation team to oversee all the business needs of our community and provide practical business support for our tech and life science residents. As well as running peer networks and 1:1 support, the team organises free expert advice for resident businesses, connects companies with the University, and designs and develops a varied support programme of workshops and Q&As.

An event held in the Hub Space of the University Enterprise Zone

How we work with UWE

Our Innovation team works closely with UWE Bristol to drive collaboration opportunities. If you are a small company in the early stages of development, it can be difficult to find the capacity to carry out all aspects of running the business as well as giving focus to building your product and services. The knowledge and expertise you have in-house is also likely to be limited. Universities can play a key role in helping SMEs grow, with access to skills training, student and graduate resource, academic expertise, and an abundance of practical advice.

Businesses based at Future Space have benefitted from more than 200 engagements with UWE Bristol, from the use of specialist equipment at the university, to funded business assist support through programmes such as the Health Technology Accelerator Programme and SABRE. This support has enabled companies to build new products and services, as well as giving access to valuable knowledge and technical expertise that is needed in the early stages of development.

You can read more in our recent article.

What’s new for 2021/2022

Student and graduate engagement with SMEs are a core focus in the centre, with residents offered fully funded UWE Bristol internships, as well as regular chances to pitch project briefs to degree and masters level students. This year we launched our new internship programme aimed at post-graduate students, as well as undergraduate students – more than 40 interns have been employed in the Future Space community over the years, and these internships bring in vital skills and talent to resident businesses. We will be developing this programme further in 2021/22.

This year, our team also got involved in UWE Bristol’s Digital Innovation Fund, delivering innovation training as part of the ‘Innovation & Bid-writing’ course, delivered to SMEs in the region. This was a great opportunity for SMEs and our Future Space community, and we are committed to working closely on future programmes.

Our strong affiliation with UWE Bristol brings a huge amount of opportunities for resident businesses, from student and graduate engagement, to innovation support, and funding opportunities. The impact of all of this work is seen in the great successes of our community, and you can read about some of these in our cases studies and blogs. We’re excited to see what’s next.

For further information about Future Space please contact info@futurespacebristol .co.uk