SILICON GORGE TECH CLUSTER IS HUB OF INNOVATION

The Silicon Gorge tech cluster, encompassing Bristol, Gloucester, Swindon and Bath, is a burgeoning hub of innovation, according to research company Beauhurst, with Bristol in particular home to a strong cohort of tech companies.

And many of these are university spin-outs.

Actuation Lab was spun out of the University of Bristol in 2019 by three academics seeking to commercialise their mechanical innovation, the Callimorph actuator.

This keeps equipment such as valves and heating, ventilation and air conditioning dampers (HVAS) operating without corroding, helping prevent the high costs associated with unplanned downtime in the energy, marine and mining industries.

Following a significant recent investment, the award-winning company has taken up residence at Bristol’s National Composites Centre, which provides access to some of the most advanced composite manufacturing capabilities in the world.

This will bolster Actuation Lab’s research and development activities and foster business development.

Simon Bates, chief executive at Actuation Lab said: “As well as having our own secure lab space on site, the NCC have partnered with us on a pivotal Innovate UK funded project, which will see our Callimorph actuator rapidly progress towards a marketable product.”

In 2020, the company was also awarded a place on the Oil and Gas technology TechX accelerator, OGTC, along with £100,000 of equity free funding.

OGTC supports the oil and gas industry to develop technology which will accelerate the transition to an affordable net zero North Sea.

The programme led to Actuation Lab winning a small business research contract from the government to explore how its technology could be applied to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from industrial processes.