The E-Lab which can be found on the top floor of the East Building is a working space for entrepreneurial students, researchers, start-ups, spin-outs, mentors, alumni and funders.

Professor Ian White, Vice-Chancellor and President, who has a strong personal track-record of innovation, hosted the Enterprise Lab Launch event to officially open the new innovation space. Speaking to those at the event, he said:

I welcome the launch of this new Enterprise Lab which will create increased enterprise activity in so many ways, providing opportunities to listen and engage. To have a space for this purpose is very special to me and will be transformative, not only for individuals but for the community, while contributing to the wider common good. It is very exciting to see things being carried out in diverse ways and I look forward to the E-Lab being featured in the Enterprise Day celebrations in 2023.

Professor Jonathan Knight, Vice-President for Enterprise, opened the launch event at the new E-Lab. Addressing the delegates, he said:

It is a milestone in the evolution of the University that we have an innovation-facing space on campus. If we are to successfully transition to become a more innovative University and build a regional ecosystem it is imperative that we make good use of it. Early signs are excellent with a wide range of activities taking place here. However, there is surely more that we can do and so I encourage you to all think about how this space might be useful to you in your innovative endeavours.

The E-Lab is advantageously co-located with two of the University’s innovative research institutes; the Institute for Sustainability and the Institute for Mathematical Innovation (IMI), both also situated on the third floor of the East Building.

Dr Vimal Dhokia, Deputy Head of Mechanical Engineering who co-founded the spin-out company Gen3D which was recently acquired by Altair, was also at the Enterprise Launch. He emphasised having the space to think as being critical to growing innovative activities.

Other speakers and regulars at the E-Lab were Laurence James, an Alumnus from the University of Bath and Student Enterprise Mentor in Residence. Laurence has worked in a range of roles, in both the commercial and public sectors, and co-founded his own business. Postgraduate student Izzie Hurst, an Alumni Innovation Award winner who Co-Founded Dopple, the clothes swapping app for students, also spoke.