As part of our commitment to championing innovation and achieving Net Zero, we have launched a new Property Technology (PropTech) Incubator to support start-up businesses that are developing potentially groundbreaking technology for use in commercial and residential buildings.
Oxford Innovation Space currently supports over 870 early-stage businesses through our network of 32 innovation centres across the UK & Ireland. Some of these businesses are developing solutions to environmental issues, such as reducing carbon emissions, improving energy efficiency and minimising waste. This new PropTech Incubator will provide these businesses with a valuable opportunity to test their technology in one or more of our innovation centres. The initiative offers them the chance to gather practical feedback and data in a real setting to help them evidence and further develop their concepts for commercial success.
Jo Stevens, Managing Director of Oxford Innovation Space, said: “The launch of our PropTech Incubator further builds upon our history of championing innovation and our commitment to environmental sustainability. Oxford Innovation was founded over 35 years ago by entrepreneurs to support entrepreneurs, so we are delighted to be able to use our network of centres to help SMEs trial new technologies that have the potential to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency in new and existing buildings.”
Following the necessary due diligence process, EcoSync and Infersens are the first two companies to take up the opportunity to trial technologies in innovation centres managed by us.
Oxford-based EcoSync, which has also accessed investment from Oxford Innovation Finance’s EIS Growth Fund and Angel Investment Network (known as OION), has already installed smart valves to monitor room usage and temperatures for a trial period at the Oxford Centre for Innovation and the Mansfield Innovation Centre in Nottinghamshire. EcoSync’s dynamic energy management platform adapts temperature controls to changing room occupancy levels and has been designed to be deployed in commercial buildings (modern and historic) to reduce the heating costs and carbon footprint by up to 50%.
Meanwhile Infersens, which has developed intelligent water sensors that monitor water flow and temperature to minimise waste and improve sustainability, has undertaken a trial installation of its devices at Heyford Park Innovation Centre near Bicester. The company’s first product Cortense, is a device for the reliable and compliant management of waterborne pathogens such as Legionella in the built environment.
As well as supporting SMEs that are pioneering solutions to environmental challenges, the PropTech Incubator is part of our own journey as Oxford Innovation Space to become Net Zero. We have been working closely with Positive Planet to understand and reduce our carbon footprint, with many staff having already completed a carbon literacy training programme. In addition, we hold the Good Business Charter accreditation in recognition of responsible business practices.
