According to the Higgs Centre, economic analysis shows that each company generates an average Gross Value Added (GVA) of \u00a3498,000 per annum, resulting in a total economic impact of \u00a313 million per year from these active businesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fulfilling to see the tremendous efforts of our early-stage companies being justly rewarded with patient capital, allowing them to create further opportunities as they grow,\u201d said Ruairidh Henderson, startup incubation manager at the Higgs Centre.<\/p>\n Based at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh, the Higgs Centre has seen startups specialising in AI, robotics, photonics, rocket propulsion, avionics, data analytics, and even prosthetics pass through its doors, assisted by the Science and Technology Facilities Council\u2019s (STFC) Business Incubation programme.<\/p>\n Part of STFC, the Higgs Centre is co-located alongside the UK Astronomy Technology Centre and the University of Edinburgh\u2019s Institute for Astronomy at the Royal Observatory, with tenants offered access to labs, cleanrooms and state-of-the-art equipment, including space qualification testing capabilities.<\/p>\n The Higgs Centre also provides specialist advice and guidance for startups to help accelerate their growth and attract investment.<\/p>\n One company currently raising investment, Robocean, builds subsea robotics to replenish seagrass meadows, a vital part of the ocean\u2019s ecosystem which supports biodiversity, captures CO2, and reduces coastal erosion.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOur incubation at The Higgs Centre has been game-changing, thanks to their support we can move faster than ever before,\u201d said Niall McGrath, CEO at Robocean.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOur access to laboratories and expertise has allowed us to quickly design, build and test our prototypes on the fly. No matter what challenge we are facing, there is always someone to help.\u201d<\/p>\n Startups based at the Higgs Centre have experienced a rapid increase in funding over the past two years, securing \u00a315 million in investment<\/a> and creating 50 jobs since April 2023.<\/p>\n![\"DIGIT](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1746695412_901_GEXPO25-Ads-1.jpg\")
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