Highlights

  • £1 million upfront cash payment from Abstract to Frontier IP as part of anchor tenancy.
  • 20-year lease secured on 18,000 sq. ft facility at South Cambridge Science Centre.
  • First 12 months of rent-free occupancy expected to reduce operational costs significantly.

Frontier IP Group Plc (AIM: FIPP) has announced a strategic partnership with Abstract Mid-Tech Limited to establish a new innovation hub at the South Cambridge Science Centre (SCSC) in Sawston. The agreement includes a 20-year lease for one floor (18,000 square feet), aimed at supporting early-stage science and technology companies.

As part of the agreement, Abstract provided an upfront £1 million cash payment to Frontier IP and will offer rent-free occupancy for the first year. The hub will house Frontier IP’s commercialisation team, currently based in Duxford, and will offer sublet opportunities to both its existing portfolio and other aligned startups.

The facility's location near key innovation infrastructure — including Addenbrooke’s Hospital, AstraZeneca, and the Babraham Research Campus — is expected to facilitate networking, investor engagement, and deal sourcing. Frontier IP sees the hub as an opportunity to streamline operations, enhance development timelines, and improve visibility within Cambridge’s innovation ecosystem.

Frontier IP will be responsible for costs associated with running the facility, including potential investments for upgrades. However, it expects to generate rental income from subletting space to startups and deep tech ventures. The company projects that the innovation hub will be operational by the end of 2025.

This move comes as demand for lab and office space in Cambridge remains high, driven by the city’s growing reputation as a life sciences and tech cluster. The SCSC partnership is seen by Frontier IP as a strategic step toward enhancing its commercialisation model and improving access to both capital and talent.

The Group also expects the facility to support future exits and realisations by providing a venue for showcasing portfolio companies to potential acquirers and funders.