New London innovation hub secures first tenant ahead of 2026 opening

A new science and technology hub in West London has confirmed its first tenant ahead of opening, as efforts grow to address the capital’s shortage of affordable laboratory space.

Cleantech startup Ki Hydrogen will take 1,500 ft2 of lab and office space at the Innovation Hub at 1 Portal Way in North Acton, a 55,000 ft2 facility designed to support early-stage and scaling science companies.

Developed for Imperial College London and operated by Sciopolis, the site is expected to open in June 2026 and will accommodate up to 30 science and technology businesses.

The hub forms part of the wider WestTech London ecosystem, with a focus on providing ready-to-occupy laboratory and office space for companies looking to scale without leaving the capital.

Ki Hydrogen, which is developing technology to convert biomass into green hydrogen, has grown within Imperial’s innovation network and will use the new space to advance its scale-up phase while remaining close to academic and industry partners.

The development aims to ease pressure on London’s lab space market by offering flexible, fully fitted facilities alongside shared amenities and support services to help startups grow and scale.

Imperial College London said the hub is designed to help startups progress from early-stage research through to pilot manufacturing, strengthening links between academia and industry within the emerging Old Oak innovation cluster.

The site is located next to Imperial’s advanced manufacturing facilities, enabling companies to move between lab-based research and larger-scale production as they grow.

More information online