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 Published: 17 Nov 2022 | Last Updated: 17 Nov 2022 16:43:27

The London BioScience Innovation Centre (LBIC) – founded in 2000 and owned by the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹æÂÉÂÛ̳ (RVC) – will open a new 37,127 sq. ft. (GIA) state-of-the-art innovation centre at The Apex, one of five mixed-use buildings within the ‘Tribeca’ development in the heart of King’s Cross (London) in Autumn 2023. This expansion demonstrates a commitment to driving further scientific discoveries and improvements in both animal and human health.

The RVC has established strong research connections with key partner institutions and stakeholders both in London and throughout the world since its inception in 1791. Its partnerships span veterinary science and human health, and LBIC facilitates collaboration between its clients and the RVC’s expert researchers, which includes access to specialist equipment and contract research services.

The Apex will build on LBIC’s existing provision to offer additional high-tech, state of the art lab facilities to its growing customer base, with the new facility set to strengthen its value proposition and attractiveness as a world-leading destination for bioscience research and development.

Professor Stuart Reid, President and Principal of the RVC of the RVC, commented:

“We are pleased to be able to support the next stage of the growth and development of LBIC. We look forward to the enhanced impact that this expansion will deliver through additional research collaborations and industry links.”

Guaranteed by the RVC, LBIC will hold a 25-year lease, including various parts of the seven-storey building. It will also have an active involvement in the marketing, letting and operation in the remainder of The Apex, to ensure the occupier mix is complementary. The LBIC’s expert team supports 60 companies at present, with the innovation centre at The Apex set to further enhance its strong reputation for excellence.

The Tribeca development, delivered by Reef Group and Blackrock Alternatives, will be a landmark location and a key contributor to the King’s Cross Knowledge Quarter, which includes over 50 world-leading research institutions and organisations within life science, technology, and the arts.

Dr Rich Ferrie, CEO at London BioScience Innovation Centre, said:

“We are delighted to be growing our footprint in the King’s Cross Knowledge Quarter by bringing online this fantastic new facility which complements our existing successful offering.  This expansion demonstrates our commitment to addressing the continuing need for high quality grow-on space for innovative young bioscience companies in London. The LBIC team, supported by the RVC, has been at the forefront of providing best-in-class facilities at the heart of the capital for over two decades now and our partnership with Reef and BlackRock will be key to the next exciting phase of our growth.”

Stewart Deering, Chief Executive at Reef Group, commented:

“King’s Cross is home to world-leading institutions and has been at the forefront of commerce and research for hundreds of years. The one million sq. ft. of high-quality lab and workspace at Tribeca is set to further enhance the area’s reputation as a leader in biotech innovation. The space has been designed to encourage occupiers to collaborate and drive forward the fast-growing and dynamic life sciences sector. London BioScience Innovation Centre will be key to realising this ambition by drawing on its extensive customer base from across the industry and ensuring the tenant mix at The Apex is complementary and world leading in research and development.”

About the RVC

• The °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹æÂÉÂÛ̳ (RVC) is the UK's largest and longest established independent veterinary school and is a Member Institution of the University of London.
• It is one of the few veterinary schools in the world that hold accreditations from the RCVS in the UK (with reciprocal recognition from the AVBC for Australasia, the VCI for Ireland and the SAVC for South Africa), the EAEVE in the EU, and the AVMA in the USA and Canada.
• The RVC is ranked as the top veterinary school in the world in the QS World University Rankings by subject, 2022.
• The RVC offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and biological sciences.  
• The RVC is a research led institution with 88% of its research rated as internationally excellent or world class in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
• The RVC provides animal owners and the veterinary profession with access to expert veterinary care and advice through its teaching hospitals and first opinion practices in London and Hertfordshire.

About Reef

Reef Group was formed in 2002 and specialise in Mixed Use Urban Regeneration. They are passionate about design and creating vibrant experiences that stimulate towns and cities throughout the UK.

Reef have completed projects across the UK with a variety of partners, including local authorities, global institutions and end-occupiers. Working closely with Urban R, Reef’s in-house design studio, Reef curates each development to transform the way people use and experience place.

About LBIC

The London BioScience Innovation Centre (LBIC) was established in 2000 as London’s first specialist incubator for the life science industry and is currently home to over 60 clients. LBIC provides a focus for life science activity in the UK capital, offering laboratory and office facilities as well as a virtual service to meet the needs of a wide range of organisations, from micro businesses to multi-national corporations. LBIC is committed to improving sustainability across its own operations and those of its clients and is working to become carbon neutral.

LBIC is owned and operated by the prestigious °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹æÂÉÂÛ̳ (RVC), the UK’s largest and longest-established veterinary institution and a leading centre for comparative and translational medicine.

LBIC was supported throughout this process by R&D property experts Creatives Places and took legal advice from Farrer & Co.

 020 7691 1122

lbic@rvc.ac.uk