ARC’S HARWELL CAMPUS NAMED UK’S MOST SUCCESSFUL SCIENCE CAMPUS
Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, part of the ARC (Advanced Research Clusters) network, has been named the UK’s most successful science campus in recognition of its commitment to nurturing world-class science and technological advancements, and its contributions to the UK’s innovation economy.
The award from UKSPA acknowledges the campus’s exceptional growth and development, driven by its focus on creating an environment where leading scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs can thrive.
As part of ARC, Harwell is a joint venture between Brookfield, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). It has emerged as a beacon of innovation, attracting organisations at the cutting edge of life sciences, space exploration, energy tech, and quantum computing.
Harwell Campus was recognised for its high growth, economic impact, and scientific excellence. In the past two years alone, over 50 new organisations have joined the campus, including Moderna and the UK Space Agency, while the site has also seen the addition of new amenities such as a 300-person conference centre, improvements in sustainability, and the promotion of STEM to the public.
Over £300 million has been invested in Harwell to fund and deliver more than 600,000 sq. ft of advanced manufacturing and scale-up space, alongside improved amenities including a street-food box park, state-of-the-art conference centre, and a travel hub.
In recent years, the Harwell community has grown from 6,000 to 7,500 people, supported by business programmes for start-ups and scale-ups and a curated events programme fostering cross-sector collaboration that run across ARC campuses.
The team has also elevated the campus’s public profile, welcoming over 18,000 visitors for Harwell’s open day, inspiring the next generation of scientists by showcasing the campus’s cutting-edge work.
Additionally, Harwell has secured government funding to expand its world-leading national facilities, including the Diamond Light Source Synchrotron, the National Satellite Test Facility, and the National Quantum Computing Centre.
Stuart Grant, CEO of ARC said: “We’re incredibly honoured to receive this award, which reflects the dedication of everyone across ARC to create environments where scientists and innovators can excel. The past few years have been transformative for Harwell, and we’re excited for what lies ahead as we continue to support our community in pushing the boundaries of science and innovation.”
Barbara Ghinelli, Director of Innovation Clusters and Harwell Campus at UKRI-STFC added: “Harwell is such an exciting place to work, and the partnership between the public and private sector has driven exceptional growth and enabled hundreds of new collaborations across our clusters. By working together, we can focus on a shared vision to create one of the world’s best environments to innovate.”
ARC’s network currently consists of four clusters including Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, ARC Oxford, ARC Uxbridge, and ARC West London, home to over 300 leading science and innovation organisations and over 10,000 employees.
For more information about ARC and Harwell Campus’s vision for the future, visit harwellcampus.com.
