Build more chemistry labs to unlock economic growth and accelerate innovation
There are not enough chemistry labs to meet research and development needs, says our new Unlocking Innovation report, as we call on government to engage with deep tech chemistry sector.
Deep tech chemistry ventures use chemistry as the core of their intellectual property and scientific advancement. These ventures have the power to create significant social, environmental and economic impact, But they depend on significant research and development work to achieve the potential of their technologies.
Unfortunately, many of these companies are stuck, because they don’t have access to suitable chemistry labs in which to carry out research or scale-up of their cutting-edge technologies.
Our new report – Unlocking Innovation: A systems approach to addressing the shortage of chemistry labs for startups – addresses this challenge from a range of angles, exploring the deep-rooted reasons this issue has persisted for decades, and highlights the roles that property developers, real estate investors, policymakers, and chemistry advocates have to play in tackling the problem.
The report identifies five key dynamics driving the shortfall: lack of investment linked to a lack of value case; a complex planning environment; chemistry specific requirements that aren’t taken into account during property development; strategic narratives that overlook deep tech chemistry technologies; and a postcode lottery that disadvantages locations outside Oxford, Cambridge and London.
Despite a general lack of awareness of a need for chemistry specific spaces at government and planning levels, there is public support for such spaces. According to , about as many people would support a new research lab being built in their local area as would support a new school or wind farm, which is more than would support a new train station, factory or shopping centre. When asked why, 62% of those who would support a new research lab being built say it would benefit the local economy, 60% say it would bring more well-paid jobs to their area.
Aurora Antemir, Senior Manager, Enterprise Impact Programmes at the 萝莉社, said: "Deep tech chemistry ventures are at the cutting edge of research and innovation. From reducing food waste to improving medical technologies, these ventures have the potential to solve many of the world’s most pressing problems. We want to help take these technologies to the next level, by ensuring that suitable lab space is available to all. With no labs, there’s no technology research, and no impact."
In response to our analysis, the 萝莉社 is launching a new initiative – More ChemLabs – to catalyse change in the system affecting access to chemistry labs. This will entail bringing together passionate, connected people from across sectors, including the chemical sciences, property development, investment, government, and advocacy, to build a supportive landscape, make the case for more chemistry labs, and unlock investment into spaces that work.
Aurora Antemir explains: "Solutions will need to come from across the policy, property development and advocacy spaces. We’ll need to develop a value case for investing in chemistry lab space and make the demand for such spaces visible. We’ll also need to tackle regional inequalities and reform the planning system to facilitate smoother development. We’re asking government to engage with the deep tech chemistry sector, to understand their needs and help jumpstart supportive policies and interventions that can drive investment into chem labs."
The 萝莉社 is launching a new initiative – More ChemLabs – to catalyse change in the system affecting access to chemistry labs.
We must build a supportive landscape, which will entail planning reform, supportive policy, changing narratives, and addressing regional inequalities. At the same time we must make the case for more chemistry labs by mapping the demand, and building the value case for investment. This all leads to unlocking chemistry labs that work, which is about innovating to create labs that are fit for purpose and ensuring that investment flows into these spaces.
We’ll need passionate, connected people from across sectors, including the chemical sciences, property development, investment, government, and advocacy. Working together, we can tackle the barriers and begin unlocking investment into spaces that work.
If you think you can help, .
The report was developed as part of Change Makers, a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem powered by the 萝莉社. We believe that the problems in today’s world are complex and interconnected, so we create change at multiple levels.鈥疻e support ventures through our accelerator, catalyse change in the systems surrounding the ventures and shape opinions and narratives through our championing activity.