Dr Rupa Huq MP visited Imperial’s White City Deep Tech Campus to see how the college fosters entrepreneurship and engages with the local people.
Hosted by Imperial’s Tom Bailey, Strategy Director (Innovation Ecosystem), Dr Rupa Huq, MP for Ealing Central and Acton, visited to be taught extra concerning the White City Deep Tech Campus because the native MP.
She heard about Imperial’s ambitions for WestTech London to drive progress, create jobs, and appeal to funding throughout London and the UK. Anchored by Imperial’s science and innovation property in South Kensington, Paddington Life Sciences, the White City Innovation District and Old Oak and Park Royal, WestTech London will change into a worldwide powerhouse for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Rupa realized about Imperial’s latest investments within the Old Oak space the place the college is a serious long-term investor, developer and operator. WestTech London continues to develop in Rupa’s constituency with the latest launch of One Portal Way, Old Oak, a brand new 55,000 sq ft scale-up area for science and know-how ventures.
Opening in mid-2026, the power will present totally fitted lab and workplace area for up to 30 progressive scale-ups, serving to to tackle London’s scarcity of reasonably priced lab area and allow quickly rising companies to keep within the capital.
Supporting deep tech startups tackling well being and sort out local weather challenges
Rupa toured the White City Incubator, Imperial’s innovation hub based mostly in Scale Space, to discover how the college helps early-stage, deep tech corporations engaged on options to enhance well being and sort out local weather change. The Incubator removes boundaries of entry for startups by offering them with versatile state-of-the-art moist labs and workplace area, shared specialist tools and prototyping services.
She additionally heard how corporations profit from the Incubator with skilled recommendation, tailor-made support and forming worthwhile connections that reach far past the lab, creating an atmosphere designed to unlock an thought’s potential and support progress.
Engaging native communities via training and analysis
The go to additionally highlighted Imperial’s societal engagement actions which be sure that analysis and training profit society. Vicky Brightman-Hahn, Director of Public Engagement, outlined how the college works with the general public, together with colleges, sufferers and native communities, via programmes at The Invention Rooms in White City, which instantly profit Rupa’s constituents.
At the Dangoor Reach Out Makerspace, Rupa noticed first-hand how younger individuals are launched to instruments comparable to 3D printers, laser cutters and scanners, serving to them to develop STEM expertise and confidence in a artistic atmosphere.
Farial Missi, Senior Partnerships and Community Engagement Manager, highlighted initiatives that support private and skilled improvement regionally. These embrace What the Tech?!, a digital literacy programme based by Imperial college students, the place college students support aged native residents with digital gadgets comparable to smartphones, tablets and laptops.
Agents of Change is a pioneering neighborhood management community, supporting girls dwelling and working in White City to drive social change. The programme helps feminine leaders of all ages, sectors and backgrounds to sort out native challenges via networking occasions, workshops, and seminars.
