The Higgs Centre for Innovation

Bringing together world-class research in astronomy and particle physics with business incubation facilities and laboratories.

The Science and Technology Facilities Council and the University of Edinburgh have long and proven histories of not only developing revolutionary science and technology but also commercialising it and creating viable businesses. This extensive knowledge and expertise is available to businesses in Scotland at the Higgs Centre for Innovation at the prestigious Royal Observatory in Edinburgh.

Part of the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC), the Higgs Centre for Innovation is a business-focused facility in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, for supporting start-ups and SMEs working in the space and data-intensive sectors, and encouraging collaboration between researchers, engineers and postgraduate students.

The Higgs Centre for Innovation offers:

  • Business Incubation – a unique environment and support package to help accelerate growth for start-ups.
  • Facilities – affordable and flexible access to cutting-edge equipment and expertise in remote sensing instrumentation, space technology and data intensive science.
  • Collaboration – actively encourage collaborative working with SMEs and large corporates to ensure there is real commercial and societal impact.

Science and Technology Facilities Council

The Higgs Centre for Innovation is part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), one of UKRI’s research councils.

STFC’s mission is to deliver world-leading national and international research and innovation capabilities and, through those, discover the secrets of the Universe. Our major research and innovation campuses at Harwell, Daresbury and research facilities across the UK and overseas support fundamental research in astronomy, physics, computational science, and space science.

UK Research and Innovation

Launched in April 2018, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

UKRI brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK.

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