Mike Wiseman
Head of Workspace Leasing and Science & Technology, British Land
Dr Sam Barrell (CBE)
Deputy Chief Executive, The Francis Crick Institute
Science and technology clusters facilitate connections and collaborations between like-minded companies and institutions. They are key to accelerating innovation in the UK.
“Science is all about connectivity,” says Dr Sam Barrell (CBE), Deputy Chief Executive of Europe’s largest single-site biomedical research institute, the Francis Crick Institute. “It’s a highly interdisciplinary field, so, to make life-changing discoveries and paradigm shifts, you need access to a diversity of scientific thinking from across the world. Crucially, you must be able to join the dots between those different areas of knowledge.”
Science and technology clusters facilitate connection
Dr Barrell is a big believer in science and technology clusters: hives of dynamic academic and corporate activity in a single neighbourhood. For example, the Francis Crick Institute is based in the Knowledge Quarter, a thriving hub of over 100 science and other knowledge-producing partner organisations in London’s King’s Cross/Euston area, including University College London Hospital, the Alan Turing Institute and numerous small businesses and startups.
“The proximity of all these organisations allows exciting local connections to happen in a powerful, synergistic way,” explains Dr Barrell. “Because London is a global city, it attracts connections with international talent, too.”
Having a concentration of talent, resources and complementary occupiers in one area acts as a magnet to businesses that want to accelerate innovation.
Sustainable real estate development
Mike Wiseman is Head of Workspace Leasing and Science and Technology at British Land, a property company focused on developing and managing sustainable real estate, particularly for the life science sector.
Its portfolio includes several campuses in the UK, such as the Regent’s Place campus in the Knowledge Quarter, where it collaborates with the Francis Crick Institute to offer state-of-the-art laboratories and office space for biotech and pharma companies. British Land is also delivering Canada Water, a 53-acre scheme, with potential to become a significant innovation cluster.
Concentration of talent allows innovation to flourish
“Having a concentration of talent, resources and complementary occupiers in one area acts as a magnet to businesses that want to accelerate innovation,” agrees Wiseman. “Plus, the right collaboration with a larger neighbour or institution can give small businesses access to technology and facilities that they might not have themselves. If they have ambitions to grow, it’s easier to scale up on a campus location of several million square feet, in an environment full of expertise and entrepreneurialism. In the years ahead, the most exciting science advances will come from clusters.”
