Wrapping up 2024 

It’s been an action-packed year at Milton Park…  

The team looks back at the top milestones, events and innovations that took place across the Park in 2024. 

1. Groundbreaking at Nebula:  

In February, Andrew Griffith MP, former Minister for Science, Research & Innovation, took part in a groundbreaking ceremony and time capsule burial for Nebula, Milton Park’s £40m, 80,000 sq ft R&D development. 

You may have noticed the sustainable exposed glulam beams during construction, which hold up Nebula’s vaulted ceilings. Reducing carbon, the innovative material also creates a functional and modern space for cutting-edge companies to operate large-scale laboratory or engineering equipment. 

2. Over a year of schools’ engagement: 

In March, we celebrated the first anniversary of the ‘Explore Milton Park’ initiative. We also reached a milestone of engaging with 1,600 students to explore science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) careers and say a big thank you to the 61 volunteers that supported the initiative, from 24 companies based across the Park. 

Leaving them “genuinely excited about future careers in science”, the feedback revealed 88% of students gained a better understanding of STEAM career pathways, 77% felt more confident and 95% of volunteers reported improved insights into young people. 

3. Autonomous bus results revealed:  

Last year, the UK’s first fully electric, full-size autonomous bus service trials took place around Milton Park and to and from Didcot Parkway station. 

Announcing the results this year, the MultiCAV trial highlighted several benefits of integrating this driving technology with human drivers in buses, including advanced driver-assistance technologies, additional bus services and lower operating costs.  

The trial supported a case for fully autonomous buses on dedicated bus-only roads, with pre-bookable passenger assistance or through a combination of automated and human-driven sections to reduce costs. 

4. 100 years of innovation:  

From Spitfire wings to buttons for military uniforms, RAF Milton Depot played a key role in pivotal moments during the First and Second World Wars by supplying equipment and essential parts. 

Celebrating one hundred years of human endeavours, past and present members of the Milton Park community gathered for a demolition ceremony in June for buildings 57 & 59 Jubilee Avenue, to celebrate the science and technology that has spun out of the wartime buildings. 

57 and 59 Jubilee Avenue were adapted to provide vital incubator space for pioneering science companies, which included early Oxford University spinouts such as Oxford Asymmetry International, acquired by Evotec and Avidex, which evolved into Immunocore and Adaptimmune. Representatives from these drug discovery multinationals attended the event to commemorate their origins in the buildings. 

5. Biodiversity initiatives:  

The Greener Workplace Forum is an independent group made up of representatives from companies across the Park. It aims to share best practice and raise awareness of existing green initiatives around energy use, recycling and transport, and be a collective voice when lobbying for infrastructure improvements and investment which help to reduce emissions from transport, buildings and plant and create more space for nature 

In August, we provided an update on our new and ongoing biodiversity initiatives, including green roofs for Milton Park’s bike shelters and our bird, owl and bat boxes. The team has also supported dozens of events, including a biodiversity walk in celebration of National Work Life Week, the monthly Bike2Work breakfasts, ‘Meet the Bees’ sessions and hanging basket workshops. 

6. National recognition for green innovation: 

In October, we were thrilled to be announced as one of the UK’s most sustainable innovation communities, winning the Environmental Sustainability Award at the United Kingdom Science Park Association (UKSPA) 40^th anniversary conference. 

The award highlighted Milton Park’s dedication to reducing carbon emissions, enhancing biodiversity and creating a culture of sustainability. Key initiatives such as our partnership with Thames Travel and £20 annual bus pass, free bike hire, zero-to-landfill waste management, green energy solutions, electric vehicle charging points and improved cycle paths, have all helped us lead the way in terms of sustainability and environmental responsibility. 

We were also delighted Evotec was shortlisted as a finalist in the category for Most Successful Company and ASA Landscape Architects shortlisted for the Partnership Award. 

7. Scientific advances:  

Each month, we’ve shared a roundup of innovation news, showcasing the outstanding technological and scientific advances at Milton Park.  

Occupiers have certainly achieved some amazing things in 2024! Over the year, these have included: 

• Summit Therapeutics’ breakthrough in cancer treatment 
• Immunocore expanding its impact with KIMMTRAK and melanoma drug trial  
• Nexeon’s global expansion in battery materials 
• Adaptimmune Therapeutics winning accelerated FDA approval 
• Grey Wolf Therapeutics securing an additional £39m Series B financing (£78m total) 
• Replimune raising £78m in new funding 
• Gylden Pharma (formerly Emergex) winning MHRA production approval and securing patent for influenza vaccine 
• Tokamak Energy securing $125M (£98.6M) to advance fusion and magnet technologies 

8. New arrivals:  

During 2024, our vibrant community of over 250 occupiers grew, with a wide range of new occupiers taking on all different kinds of spaces to suit their bespoke needs. 

New Milton Park occupiers in 2024 include: 

• Nium – a start-up which uses nanotechnology to eliminate harmful emissions from ammonia production 
• Jisc – leading not-for-profit education technology company 
• NeoVac – spinout biotech from Tel Aviv University 
• Verdel Instruments –  start-up specialising in mass spectrometry 
• New England Bio’s first UK manufacturing facility 
• Alongside Physiomics, Outrun Therapeutics and Oxehealth who have moved alongside many others into Bee House.   

9. Events to meet likeminded people:    

Throughout the year, we’ve hosted a wide range of events to help our occupiers collaborate, meet like-minded people and encourage innovation.  

These have ranged from Bike2Work initiative, biodiversity walks and Pride networking, to seasonal events like pumpkin carving and wreath making.  

Not to forget our fabulously festive Christmas Market earlier this month. Over 1,000 people visited the market and 240 occupiers took part in the wreath making event, which raised over £2,500 for the Didcot Powerhouse Fund combined. 

10. Change coming along the tracks at Signal Yard: 

This autumn, we revealed details of our exciting £14m redevelopment project, Signal Yard, which will mark a new page in the Park’s history, creating a place to relax, socialise, eat and drink, allowing occupiers to make new connections. 

The name Signal Yard is a nod to the past, but also a strong signal to the present and future of Milton Park. From a rural military depot and out of town trading estate, to an innovation community… the Park has certainly undergone a big transformation in the intervening years. 

Once complete, Signal Yard will feature 18 state-of-the-art units offering a vibrant mix of food and drink, retail and leisure venues within landscaped surroundings, transforming the area into a welcoming, vibrant, multifunctional and biodiverse destination for occupiers to enjoy. ASA Landscape Architects has worked closely with Milton Park to enhance the sense of community by providing places for people to gather in, with plenty of seating and a large outdoor event space for seasonal festivities and celebrations. Landscaping features will include a ‘boardwalk’, a tree nursery, cascading gardens, rain gardens and much more…  

With 2024 drawing to a close, we can’t wait to share more events, new occupiers, innovative discoveries and amenity updates coming in 2025. 

In the meantime, don’t forget to sign up to our Milton Wonder newsletter to stay updated with the latest news and be the first to hear about our events. 

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See what we’ve been up to this year…

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