Harwell Innovation Centre celebrates 25 years of powering science and technology innovation

Harwell Innovation Centre in Oxfordshire marks its 25th anniversary with a celebration event for past and present customers, partners and staff.

Playing a supporting role in the UK’s innovation economy, we at Harwell Innovation Centre in Oxfordshire marked our 25th anniversary on Wednesday (11 June 2025) with a special event honouring the early-stage businesses we have helped nurture – many of which are now leading breakthroughs in energy, space, health and quantum computing.

Over 300 businesses have called us home since we opened our doors in May 2000 on the now world-renowned Harwell Campus. Managed by Oxford Innovation Space, we have been instrumental in incubating innovative start-ups and building a thriving community of science and technology businesses.

Jo Stevens, Managing Director of Oxford Innovation Space – which runs the UK’s largest network of innovation centres – said: “Harwell Innovation Centre highlights the power of innovation centres to build communities of SMEs, drive local economic growth, and support the development of groundbreaking technologies. We are proud to have supported so many companies to start, scale and succeed over the last 25 years and we are proud to have contributed to the success of the wider campus.”

Jo Stevens, Managing Director of Oxford Innovation Space (centre left), cuts the cake with Paul McSweeney, Senior Director at ARC (centre right) alongside the incredible team at Harwell Innovation Centre to mark the centre’s 25 year milestone.

Offering flexible workspace along with in-house business support services, we have helped companies accelerate their growth, create high-value jobs, and bring pioneering products to market. Businesses which include Astroscale, Planet IT, RedWave Labs, T-Squared, Oxford Sigma, Digostics, Gigaclear, Agamatrix and Woodruff Scientific to name just a few.

One of the first businesses to start their journey with us, Digostics Ltd, has developed the world’s first lab-quality home screening test for diabetes, GTT@home.

Digostics founder and CEO, James Jackson moved into Harwell Innovation Centre in 2002 shortly after setting up SmartSensor Telemed and formed Digostics here in 2019. Today, Digostics employs 10 staff as well as specialist contractors and has established a presence in New York.

Crediting our role in his success, James said: “I don’t think we would be where we are today if we hadn’t been located within the Harwell Innovation Centre, as it exposed us to a vibrant science and tech ecosystem. The centre plays a vital role in connecting the science community and fostering collaborations. Without centres like this, innovators risk being isolated in little silos.”

Another standout success is Planet IT – an award-winning IT support provider in Oxfordshire that specialises in cyber security. Started by childhood friends Gavin Jones and Sean Smith in 2003, Planet IT has grown from its humble beginnings with us into a leading IT company, which now employs almost 100 staff and boasts a prestigious international client base.

Flashback to 2005: Planet IT co-founders Gavin Jones (pictured left) and Sean Smith (pictured right) are welcomed by Jo Stevens (centre) of Oxford Innovation Space as they move into their first office at Harwell Innovation Centre in 2005 — the launchpad for what would become an incredible business journey.

Planet IT’s Sean Smith explained: “When we looked around Harwell Innovation Centre, we were new to business and very nervous about signing a contract for an office. The help Oxford Innovation Space gave us, especially in the early days, was essential to our success. Being in the centre meant our clients received a professional first impression of our business.”

“We’ve grown beyond our expectations,” added co-founder, Gavin Jones. “What we learnt at Harwell Innovation Centre helped us fill in the gaps in our knowledge and accelerate us as business owners. We wouldn’t be where we are today without that early support.”

2025: Co-founders of Planet IT, Gavin Jones (pictured left) and Sean Smith (pictured right), reunite with Jo Stevens (centre), MD of Oxford Innovation Space, at the Harwell Innovation Centre’s 25th anniversary event.

Harwell Campus is jointly managed and developed by the Science and Technology Facilities Council, the UK Atomic Energy Authority and private investor, Brookfield. In 2022, Harwell Campus became part of the Advanced Research Clusters (ARC) network, further strengthening its position as a hub for innovation.

Paul McSweeney, Senior Director (Investment and Asset Management) at ARC, said: “Harwell Innovation Centre is a vital part of the ecosystem on the Harwell Campus, providing a nurturing environment for those at the start of their innovation journeys and a crucial stepping stone on to their own premises. The centre boasts many success stories, and there are exciting developments going on across the Harwell Campus to provide a home for many more businesses graduating from the centre, now and in the future.”

Oxford Innovation Space runs the UK’s largest network of innovation centres, currently supporting over 870 businesses across 31 centres. Working closely with universities, local authorities, science parks, developers and investors, the company creates dynamic environments where entrepreneurs can innovate, collaborate, and grow their businesses.

For more information on Harwell Innovation Centre, visit Flexible Workspaces | Harwell Innovation Centre

For more information on Oxford Innovation Space, visit Oxford Innovation Space | UK & Ireland’s largest network of innovation centres