£25 million boost for space and tech firms at Edinburgh Royal Observatory’s Higgs Centre

Businesses based within an incubation centre at Edinburgh’s historic Royal Observatory have secured more than £25 million of funding since it opened seven years ago.

Companies located at the Higgs Centre for Innovation have also created in excess of 150 jobs over the same period, new figures today reveal.

The achievements have been hailed as evidence of the vital role the incubator plays in fostering growth and innovation in the space and technology sectors in Scotland.

Part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council, the Higgs Centre is co-located with the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) and the University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Astronomy (IfA) at the Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh. Picture by Jason Cowan

Since opening in 2018, the Higgs Centre has incubated 28 companies, with ten currently in residence. Of those 28 businesses, 26 remain active, reflecting a company survival rate that is much higher than the national average.

Part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the Higgs Centre is co-located with the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) and the University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Astronomy (IfA) at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh. This location offers tenants access to labs, cleanrooms and state-of-the-art equipment, including space qualification testing capabilities, alongside specialist advice and guidance.

Economic analysis reveals that each Higgs company generates an average gross value added (GVA) - a measure of net economic contribution - of £498,000 per annum, resulting in a total economic impact of £13m per year from the 26 active companies.

Start-ups specialising in artificial intelligence, robotics, photonics, rocket propulsion, avionics, aquaculture, data analytics and even prosthetics have all been assisted by the STFC business incubation programme at the Higgs Centre on the start of their journey.

One such company currently raising investment is Robocean, which builds subsea robotics to replenish seagrass meadows. In the last century, Earth has lost almost one third of its global seagrass coverage and restoring these ecosystems has proved challenging.

Robocean chief executive Niall McGrath said: “Seagrass meadows are the beating heart of our oceans. Like a Swiss army knife they have a tool for every occasion, supporting biodiversity, capturing CO2, and reducing coastal erosion.

“Our incubation at the Higgs Centre has been game changing, thanks to their support we can move faster than ever before. Our access to laboratories and expertise has allowed us to quickly design, build and test our prototypes on the fly.”

STFC’s Julian Dines, head of innovation at the Higgs Centre, said: “We’re very proud to have reached such a significant milestone with over £25m in investment raised while creating over 150 jobs.

“The Higgs Centre’s role is to support small businesses and start-ups by providing them with access to the necessary knowledge, technical skills and facilities to move onto the next stage of their development. We look forward to continued growth in the tech sector, more successes and additional investments in the near future.”

Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill added: “Scotland has a rich history in innovation and technology and the Higgs Centre for Innovation in Edinburgh exemplifies this success. Through our Plan for Change the UK government is continuing to nurture our tech start-ups, building on our enviable international reputation, and shaping a future where Scottish ingenuity helps to power economic growth across the country.”

Half-dozen pioneering start-ups join Higgs Centre of Innovation in Edinburgh to power up growth