Scientific change is accelerating. We cannot predict where discoveries over the next 10, 20 or 30 years will take us. Pioneering fields like synthetic biology and data science require a truly joined up approach. At White City, Imperial is building world-class facilities for collaborative research that transcended traditional academic disciplines. Dedicated spaces bring researchers, clinicians and corporate partners together to focus on four global challenges: discovery and the natural world; engineering novel solutions; health and wellbeing; and leading the data revolution.

Solving today's global challenges

We are building world-class facilities that transcend traditional academic disciplines, and bringing together expertise from different disciplines into dedicated spaces. Here, we are solving today’s global challenges, from accelerating the shift to net zero, to translating life-changing improvements in healthcare, to revolutionising advancements in data science and digital chemistry.

Part of the College’s Academic Strategy is to identify areas which are fruitful for new discovery and new impact. These areas will open doors to new technologies and enable applications that could have major impact and societal benefit, or offer new educational experiences at the same time improving the environment for learning.

• Imperial-X provides a new co-located collaborative environment for research, education, and entrepreneurship across artificial intelligence, data science and digital technologies based at the I-HUB. This is an initiative of the faculties of Engineering, Medicine, Natural Sciences and Imperial College Business School.
• The Institute for Digital Molecular Design and Fabrication (DigiFAB) aims to transform the way chemistry is done. DigiFAB capitalises on expertise and infrastructure already existing in the College, spanning molecular synthesis through to artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, sensor technologies, and big data.
• Deep Tech Entrepreneurship seeks to understand and address the key barriers to the successful commercialisation of deep tech ventures. Building on Imperial’s strong research foundation in science, engineering and medicine, and our entrepreneurial culture, we strive to collaborate and support a thriving deep tech ecosystem across the UK and beyond.

An emerging life science cluster

Imperial plays a key role in the emerging life sciences ecosystem at White City. The growing importance of life sciences and knowledge industries in White City is explored in greater detail by the ‘London’s Knowledge Clusters’ report, commissioned by the London Property Alliance.

• DNA Nudge, an Imperial start-up co-founded by Professor Chris Toumazou, have been headquartered at the I-HUB since 2018. DNA Nudge’s lab-free, rapid and reliable COVID-19 PCR test, which delivers results in under 90 minutes, has been rolled out nationally in urgent patient care and elective surgery settings.

• Quell Therapeutics joined the I-HUB in 2020 and are developing therapies for the management and treatment of a range of conditions such as solid organ transplant rejection, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. 

• ADC Therapeutics also joined the I-HUB in 2021, launching a new research centre to develop next-generation cancer drugs. This is developing next-generation technology for treating certain kinds of cancer, which works by attaching anti-cancer drugs to antibodies.  

Through Scale Space, Imperial is providing life sciences companies with flexible lab-based space to grow. For example, DNA Electronics has opened its labs in Scale Space Phase A and there is further capacity for growth and new entrants in the balance of Phase B and forthcoming Phase C.

White City has now emerged as a leading cluster for European life sciences research and innovation. Most notably, Novartis moved its UK base and more than 600 staff to White City Place in 2019. Other global corporations like Autolus, Synthace and Gamma Delta Therapeutics are helping to catalyse the life sciences cluster.