MEPC welcomes leading nuclear firm and US quantum startup to Milton Park

The company, backed by Lavrock Ventures, The Creator Fund, firstminute capital, Black Lotus, Green Sands Equity, and UK Research & Innovation, is currently welcoming interest in its Series A round.

TreQ chose to launch the UK operation because of national initiatives focused on commercialising quantum and because half of the current quantum computing market is in Europe.

TreQ says it builds its quantum systems to enable technology leaders at FTSE 100 companies, universities and research entities to unlock quantum computing’s transformative potential. Its open-architecture systems are upgradable and extensible, which improves capital efficiency and technology resiliency.

TreQ has a core team of half a dozen senior engineers and executives and it includes team members that built the UK’s first commercial quantum computer, in addition to almost a dozen more systems worldwide.

MEPC Milton Park’s Commercial Manager, Tom Booker said: “We’re delighted to welcome TreQ to Milton Park. Having them here highlights the Park’s recognition as a hub for cutting-edge science and technology, and we’re excited to see the team leverage local expertise and resources to develop its quantum computing systems.

“Their pioneering work aligns with our vision to support companies innovating to tackle global challenges. TreQ joins a growing cluster of deep-tech businesses and we look forward to seeing their impact in the years to come.”

Relocation

Earlier this month, Nuvia, a global leader in nuclear engineering, decommissioning and health physics announced it was relocating its Oxfordshire operations to bespoke offices at Milton Park.

With over 2800 employees worldwide, Nuvia operates across a range of highly regulated and sensitive industrial and nuclear sites. The company says the new strategic relocation will support its growth plans whilst offering greater flexibility for its workforce.

Nuvia’s Health Physics Director, Greg Antill said: “Staying within Oxfordshire was important for us due to the county’s legacy and prominence in the UK’s nuclear, science and technology sectors. With The UKAEA close by and easy access to the likes of The National College of Nuclear and EDF in the South West, the region is a real hub for the nuclear sector. Our new Milton Park base puts us in close proximity to our key partners.

“Milton Park’s growing cluster of life science and green energy occupiers, especially the work of Tokamak Energy in nuclear fusion, is particularly exciting, and we feel well placed to capitalise on the talent and wider ecosystem from our new base on the Park.”

For over 60 years, Nuvia has helped to clean up the earliest nuclear sites safely, securely and cost-effectively. Building on this legacy, the 70-strong team based at Milton Park implements a holistic approach to designing, constructing, operating, maintaining and decommissioning industrial and nuclear projects across the UK.

Nuvia is currently exploring the feasibility of a Radioisotope Production Facility for the Welsh Government, which would produce medical radioisotopes from its own research reactor and supply them to Health Service providers across the UK and internationally.

Antill added: “As with the radioisotope project, we are continually on the lookout for new services to complement and expand our offering. That growth mindset has seen our team expand by over 100 people in the last ten months and we have similar ambitions next year.”

R & D workspace

Property investment and developer, MEPC, recently announced the completion of its £40 million Nebula development at Milton Park. Comprising seven sustainable research and development (R&D) workspaces totalling nearly 80,000 sq ft, Nebula’s design and build focused on environmentally conscious materials. The development is aimed at science, technology or advanced engineering companies.

The completion follows the announcement of a refreshed Local Development Order (LDO) at Milton Park. As the UK’s first data-driven, green-focused planning agreement, the LDO is expected to support thousands of new jobs and permit 4.2m sq ft of development. In the coming years, it will streamline planning decisions for its occupiers to just ten days, bringing forward new flexible laboratories, offices and amenities.

It also follows last month’s announcement by the Government of plans to boost infrastructure and attract new investment into the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, to attract up to £78 billion into the economy by 2035 and realise its potential as a global centre for science and innovation.

Commenting on the completion, Science Minister and Oxford-Cambridge Innovation Champion, Lord Vallance, said: “Modern, high-tech facilities are essential to taking full advantage of rapidly developing science and technology and in fulfilling our ambitions for the Oxford-Cambridge corridor to be an economic engine for the whole of the UK.

“Nebula’s new development of large-scale innovation space will support a range of growing industries, helping businesses to get off the ground and progress, and in turn supporting this Government’s number one mission of economic growth.”

Philip Campbell, commercial director at MEPC Milton Park, said: “Nebula’s completion follows on the heels of the Government’s Oxford to Cambridge announcement and plans to create a “Silicon Corridor” of growth.

“Delivered through our streamlined ten-day planning LDO, Nebula has been driven by the project team’s collective ambition to create a new R&D development which seamlessly blends design and sustainability, creating an attractive work environment for future occupiers to innovate.

“Following this significant milestone, we’re looking forward to opening the doors and showing new and prospective occupiers around this flagship project for Milton Park.”