DARESBURY Laboratory is celebrating a decade of success in supporting startup businesses.

Since 2020, the Science and Technology Facilities Council has offered emerging new companies 'affordable and flexible' access to multi-million pound research equipment and expert advice at the site – which is located within Sci-Tech Daresbury.

And it has since seen numerous companies set up and flourish under the scheme.

The STFC's business incubation programmes manager Delyth Edwards said: "I’m thrilled to be celebrating 10 years of the invaluable role that the access to flexible laboratory space here at STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory is playing in the growth and success of early stage companies.

"Scientific breakthroughs and technologies developed by businesses continue to transform the world we live in, but for small high-tech businesses developing these kinds of innovative products and services can be an uphill struggle in difficult economic times and an increasingly global marketplace.

"We’ve had a fantastically successful 10 years, and it is our ambition that the campus will continue to develop and attract even more companies in the next decade as they go on to develop innovative new products for the benefit of the UK and its people.

"With our facilities, capabilities and expertise, we are perfectly placed to help businesses solve their high-tech innovation challenges and enhance their competitiveness.

"It’s fantastic to see businesses such as NGPod and Perfectus Biomed grow and go from strength to strength as we continue to provide the correct environment for innovation and success."

The latter of these two companies moved to Daresbury Labs in 2012 and is now a market leader in contract research.

Chief executive Samantha Westgate said: "Locating our business at Daresbury Laboratory provided the essential facilities and support that Perfectus Biomed needed through the early stages of our growth.

"Flexible access to laboratory and office space allowed us to grow, while on-site business support provided us with contacts and knowledge to help us secure the investment required to develop the business further."

NGPod Global located to the labs two years ago after winning a six-month business support package.

It has since developed a ‘revolutionary’ device to change the way patients who require feeding tubes are treated, technology that is being trialled in three NHS hospitals.

John Carrington chief executive, added: “The opportunity for NGPod Global to access the wealth of specialist skills, equipment and advice available here at Daresbury Laboratory has been fundamental to the development of our product.

“The facilities here, which would otherwise be out of reach financially to a small business, enabled us to develop our production processes and move on to the next technology readiness level for our business.”