Key Points
- Imperial College London has launched Grapht Works, London’s first dedicated pilot and demonstration advanced manufacturing facility, located in North Acton as part of the WestTech London ecosystem and Old Oak Innovation Cluster.
- The facility provides 28 flexible industrial-scale units ranging from 100 m² to 1,700 m², designed for deep tech scaleups transitioning from R&D to scalable production in areas like advanced materials, cleantech, industrial automation, robotics, and engineering biology.
- Grapht Works addresses the shortage of suitable space in London for pilot, demo, and scaleup manufacturing, helping science ventures stay in the capital rather than relocating.
- It is owned and operated by Imperial College London, a world-leading STEMB university, ensuring deep understanding of technical, regulatory, and operational needs of science-led growth.
- The launch supports the UK Government’s ambition to make Britain the best place to start, grow, and invest in advanced manufacturing.
- New cohort of tenants includes deep tech firms such as Solena Materials.
- Proximity to research universities, skilled talent, and transport links makes WestTech London ideal for deep tech firms.
- As reported by Claire Burgess of Imperial College London news, Hugh Brady, President of Imperial, stated: “Providing essential infrastructure, like Grapht Works, is critical if we are to ensure that deep tech businesses can start, scale and stay in the UK. It is part of WestTech London’s mission to unlock the power of innovation in West London and ignite growth not just for London, but nationwide”.
- Scaling deep tech will drive economic growth, strengthen UK industrial sectors and supply chains.
- Alice Sewell, Investment Director at Imperial, said: “While London has a wealth of lab space, and we can see R&D thriving across the city, it lacks the space to support deep tech innovation as it scales. We are seeing strong demand from high-growth science and technology businesses that want to prototype and undertake pilot and demo manufacturing in London but haven’t had access to the right kind of space. Grapht Works is about meeting that demand and ensuring companies can scale in London rather than move elsewhere”.
- Dr James MacDonald, CEO and Co-founder of Solena Materials, said: “Moving from the lab into pilot production is the moment a company proves it can manufacture at scale — and that’s what unlocks serious investment and growth. Grapht Works gives us the infrastructure to do that without leaving London, and staying within the Imperial ecosystem ensures we main momentum”.
- As reported in Ealing News, Hugh Brady, president of Imperial College London, said: “Providing essential infrastructure, like Grapht Works, is critical if we are to ensure that deep tech businesses can start, scale and stay in the UK”.
- Howard Dawber, the deputy mayor of London for business and growth, said: “London has had the ideas and the research, but we’ve lacked the prototyping and advanced manufacturing capacity to turn them into products — this project provides that missing link”.
- The wider innovation corridor has attracted more than £6bn in investment since 2017 and could support around 80,000 jobs over the next five years.
- Mathew Carpen, chief executive of the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, said: “Grapht Works is an incredible example of what’s happening right now in Old Oak — and a glimpse of what’s coming in the future”.
- Related developments include Imperial’s earlier plans for 55,000 sq ft of lab and office space at One Portal Way, Old Oak, in partnership with Sciopolis, to address lab space shortages.
- Professor Hugh Brady previously stated on the scale-up space: “The UK, and London specifically, is exceptional at discovery science – but we risk becoming a place where great ideas are born, but cannot grow. One of the most urgent challenges is the lack of specialist, affordable lab and grow-on space. Our new innovation facility in Old Oak is a direct response to this challenge, a flexible, ready-to-use space that combines top-tier lab infrastructure with connection to a global university, creative industries, manufacturing capability and exceptional local, national and international transport connections”.
Imperial College London has launched Grapht Works, marking the capital’s first dedicated facility for pilot and demonstration advanced manufacturing to bridge the gap between research and commercial scale for deep tech ventures.
The announcement, made on 5 March 2026, underscores Imperial’s commitment to retaining science innovation in London amid growing demand from scaleups facing space shortages. Owned and operated by the university, the North Acton site offers reconfigurable units tailored for technologies in advanced materials, cleantech, robotics, and more.
What is Grapht Works and Why Was It Launched?
Grapht Works comprises 28 industrial-scale units, from 100 m² to 1,700 m², enabling deep tech businesses to prototype, pilot, and demonstrate manufacturing processes. As reported by Claire Burgess of Imperial College London news, the facility responds to the “often-missing link between R&D and full-scale commercial manufacturing,” allowing reconfiguration as innovations evolve.
London’s abundance of lab space contrasts with its scarcity of scaleup facilities, prompting ventures to relocate elsewhere. Alice Sewell, Investment Director at Imperial, highlighted this disparity: “While London has a wealth of lab space, and we can see R&D thriving across the city, it lacks the space to support deep tech innovation as it scales.” The launch ensures companies can “scale in London rather than move elsewhere.”
Where is the Facility Located and What Makes Its Location Strategic?
Situated in North Acton within Imperial’s Old Oak Innovation Cluster, Grapht Works benefits from WestTech London, a frontier innovation ecosystem anchored by Imperial. The site offers proximity to research-intensive universities, skilled scientific and engineering talent, and strong transport links for staff and supply chains—elements historically hard to combine in London.
As part of the wider Old Oak and Park Royal area, it aligns with regeneration efforts catalysing transformation. Mathew Carpen, chief executive of the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, described it as “an incredible example of what’s happening right now in Old Oak — and a glimpse of what’s coming in the future.”
Who Are the Key Stakeholders and What Do They Say?
Imperial College London, a world-leading STEMB university, owns and operates the facility, providing expertise in science-led growth. On behalf of WestTech London, Hugh Brady, President of Imperial, said: “This facility supports the Government’s ambition to make the UK the best place in the world to start, grow and invest in advanced manufacturing.”
He further emphasised: “Providing essential infrastructure, like Grapht Works, is critical if we are to ensure that deep tech businesses can start, scale and stay in the UK. It is part of WestTech London’s mission to unlock the power of innovation in West London and ignite growth not just for London, but nationwide. Scaling deep tech businesses will not only drive economic growth but they also play a key role in strengthening the UK’s industrial sectors and supply chains.”
Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor of London for business and growth, praised: “London has had the ideas and the research, but we’ve lacked the prototyping and advanced manufacturing capacity to turn them into products — this project provides that missing link.” He noted the corridor has drawn over £6bn in investment since 2017, potentially supporting 80,000 jobs in five years.
Dr James MacDonald, CEO and Co-founder of Solena Materials—a new tenant—stated: “Moving from the lab into pilot production is the moment a company proves it can manufacture at scale — and that’s what unlocks serious investment and growth. Grapht Works gives us the infrastructure to do that without leaving London, and staying within the Imperial ecosystem ensures we main momentum.”
What Sectors and Companies Will Benefit?
The facility targets deep tech in advanced materials, cleantech, industrial automation, robotics, and engineering biology. A new cohort of innovation businesses has moved in, including Solena Materials. It supports ventures needing pilot, demo, and scaleup spaces to attract investment.
This builds on prior initiatives like One Portal Way, Old Oak—a 55,000 sq ft lab and office space with Sciopolis for up to 30 scaleups. Professor Hugh Brady had warned: “The UK, and London specifically, is exceptional at discovery science – but we risk becoming a place where great ideas are born, but cannot grow.”
How Does This Fit into Broader UK Innovation Efforts?
Grapht Works bolsters WestTech London’s role as a global science and tech powerhouse. It aligns with government goals for advanced manufacturing supremacy. Coverage in Labmate Online describes it as “London’s first deep tech hub for pilot and demo manufacturing.”
Ealing News reported Imperial opening the hub to help startups scale without leaving the city. Earlier Imperial media noted scale-up spaces alleviating lab shortages.
Professionals in Engineering Training Courses can leverage such facilities to upskill in advanced manufacturing, prototyping, and scaling technologies—essential for careers in deep tech innovation.