Higgs Centre for Innovation

Bringing together world-class research in astronomy and particle physics with business incubation facilities and laboratories.

Business Incubation

We offer a unique environment and support package to help accelerate growth for start-ups.

Facilities

Affordable and flexible access to cutting-edge equipment and expertise in remote sensing instrumentation, space technology and data intensive science.

In order to ensure that the research carried out by the University of Edinburgh and STFC is exploited to the full and has a real commercial and societal impact, we actively encourage collaborative working with SMEs and large corporates.

News

Recent Highlights

23 Oct 2024

Edinburgh Space Testing Facility Relaunches After Major Investment

The Higgs Centre for Innovation is relaunching their Space Testing Facility after upgrading its capabilities with new state-of-the art clean rooms and advanced testing equipment.…

12 Apr 2023

Higgs Centre for Innovation marks £10 million in investment

Pioneering tech start-ups have secured over £10 million in investment, and created 100 jobs, since the business incubation centre in Edinburgh opened in 2018. Part…

04 Aug 2022

Six Scottish start-ups locate to the Higgs Centre for Innovation

At the Higgs Centre for Innovation, start-ups are developing their technologies to tackle the real world problems and challenges we face today. Six pioneering start-ups…

02 Mar 2022

£3.5 million for start-up giving robots a human touch

A Scottish start-up at the Higgs Centre for Innovation, has raised £3.5 million to give robots a sense of atouch. Scottish start-up Touchlab, has raised…

09 Sep 2021

Craft Prospect feature in Great British Lift Off

From live links to the International Space Station to cleaning up space junk, the Great British Lift Off podcast series covered it!STFC was delighted to…

12 Aug 2021

STFC celebrates support for 100th space tech start-up

Skyfarer is developing the UK’s first autonomous drone delivery network for vital medical supplies. The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is celebrating the 100th…

About

Part of the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC), the Higgs Centre for Innovation is a business-focused facility in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, for supporting start-ups and SMEs working in the space and data-intensive sectors, and encouraging collaboration between researchers, engineers and postgraduate students.

Learn About Us

Testimonials

What people are saying?

One of the advantages of being based in the Higgs Centre for Innovation is that it offers state-of-the-art facilities that are primarily designed for the small satellite community. Companies can test their small satellites (from micro- and nano- to pico-sats) – for space readiness – in appropriate clean-room environments, with the right equipment, in one place, that are ready to be used.

Responsive Access

The Higgs Centre for Innovation, for us is the perfect combination of business support and access to specialist knowledge and tech facilities.

Laura Garcia-Caberol, Touchlab

Success Stories

Case Studies

ESA BIC UK

Omanos Analytics: Unveiling Community Impacts of Conflict and Climate

Omanos Analytics are a Glasgow-based space technology start-up delivering space data knowledge to support sustainable development, with a mission to use space data to improve transparency and reduce risk around the social and environmental impacts of critical infrastructure projects. With…

Facilities

STFC supports UK business in ensuring their technology is NASA compliant

Facilities and expertise at the Higgs Centre for Innovation are used by Scottish company Alpha Data to rigorously test their electronic boards. Challenge Alpha Data offers a range of cutting-edge electronics and electronic boards that can provide solutions to space-related…

Thu 25 Aug 2022 Higgs BIC

Science and business co-location leads to revolutionary technology to improve Earth observation

Collaboration between Razorbill Instruments and STFC’s UK Astronomy Technology Centre could deliver crisp images of the Earth through nanosatellites – small satellites that are about the size of a toaster. Challenge Nanosatellites are disrupting earth observation in positive ways; their…

Mon 07 Feb 2022 ESA BIC UK

Game-changing agri-tech developed at the ESA BIC UK

Scottish start-up Crover has developed world-first agricultural technology designed to reduce waste and save millions of tonnes of grain stock each year. The Challenge Every year around 630 million tonnes of grain is lost globally. When grains such as wheat…

Tue 11 Jan 2022 Higgs BIC

Craft Prospect

Craft Prospect seeks to bring new technologies into the space domain to maximise opportunities and return from small satellite missions. The business has initially focussed on products and services for next generation quantum optical communications and onboard intelligence, targeting the…

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