West London Business members Imperial College London and Sciopolis launched Base One on Wednesday 9 September, a 55,000 sq ft science and technology hub in North Acton (previously 1 Portal Way) which forms part of Imperial’s Old Oak Innovation Cluster and sits at the heart of WestTech London.
Base One is designed for established science ventures entering their next stage of growth, whether Imperial spinouts or science-based companies from elsewhere, and is open to sectors ranging from biotech and chemistry to cleantech, advanced materials and AI. It offers affordable, ready-to-occupy labs and offices supporting R&D, prototyping and early-stage manufacturing, with specialist landlord Sciopolis alongside on-the-ground support from Imperial Incubator. The hub sits next to Grapht Works, Imperial’s dedicated advanced manufacturing facility, so that innovators can move from lab bench to factory floor on one site.
The location is a strategic one. Base One is minutes from Imperial’s White City Campus and Hammersmith Hospital Campus and borders Park Royal Industrial Estate, London’s largest industrial estate, which employs more than 40,000 people and carries more than a century of manufacturing heritage. It sits within the wider regeneration of Old Oak being taken forward by the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, and the future Old Oak Common superhub connecting HS2, the Elizabeth line and GWR, which is set to become the UK’s third busiest station.
Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London, said: “As we welcome Base One into WestTech London we strengthen our contribution to the UK’s network of national innovation assets, supporting a truly vibrant innovation ecosystem that’s competitive with the very best in the world.”
Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Growth, said: “West London is emerging as a leader for science and innovation, and in Old Oak Innovation Cluster we now have a destination where innovators can go from lab to pilot, to production without leaving the postcode.”
Base One welcomes Nanomox as its third occupier, manufacturing and commercialising a high-transparency zinc oxide designed for mineral sunscreens, cosmetics, rubber and electronics. Nanomox joins women’s intimate health company P.Happi®, which manufactures its microbiome-focused products at the hub and is sold in Boots, and cleantech company Ki Hydrogen, which converts biomass into green hydrogen and biogenic CO2.
