Battery technology specialists Agratas joins Milton Park

Battery technology specialists Agratas takes 23,000 sq ft R&D space at Milton Park.

Agratas, a subsidiary of Tata Group, India’s largest business conglomerate has leased R&D laboratories at Milton Park.

The scale-up business developing next-generation battery technologies has signed nearly 23,000 sq ft of laboratory space in the heart of Science Vale and joins a cluster of other battery technology companies in Oxfordshire.

A spokesperson for Agratas said: “Our new facility at Milton Park, Oxford, is the foundation of our global R&D ecosystem, enabling us to accelerate innovation in battery technologies.

“This site demonstrates our commitment to delivering sustainable, high-performance solutions for the future. It also underlines the vital role of R&D in shaping Agratas’ future as a global leader in advanced battery solutions.”

Green battery technology cluster at Milton Park

Property consultancy Vail Williams, with offices in Oxford, leased the premises within five months of being instructed to market the space.

Guy Parkes, Vail Williams’ Agency Partner for Oxford and Thame, said: “This is one of the largest deals by square footage in the Oxford market this year.

“It underscores the importance for innovative businesses to be clustered around other research and development companies at Milton Park, which has become a focus for start-ups and scale-ups in the UK’s life sciences sector and green battery technology.“

“This site demonstrates our commitment to delivering sustainable, high-performance solutions for the future. It also underlines the vital role of R&D in shaping Agratas’ future as a global leader in advanced battery solutions.”

Milton Park is home to over 250 companies, from start-ups to large corporates, employing 9,000-plus people.

Guy added: “Whilst we have been embedded in the South East region for decades we only opened our office in Oxford at the beginning of the year, and it was for this very purpose of working more closely with scale-up businesses and Life Science companies across the ‘Science Vale’ – and helping promote a world-class cluster for research & development.”

Tom Booker, Commercial Manager at MEPC Milton Park, said: “We are pleased to welcome Agratas to our growing roster of cutting-edge companies who form part of the UK’s largest science, business and technology community.

“Milton Park is firmly established as a leading hub for innovation, which actively supports occupiers seeking to scale up as their business demands grow.

“Agratas joins a growing cluster of innovative green energy occupiers who are supporting the Park in its 2040 Vision to become an innovation district where 20,000 people can collaborate and companies can grow sustainably.”

About Agratas and the Tata Group

Agratas is a global battery business within the Tata Group that designs, develops and manufactures high-quality, high-performance, sustainable battery solutions for multiple applications to match customers’ requirements.

Derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Agra’, the world’s oldest language, its name stands for leadership and moving forward. Combined with ‘Gravitas’, it reflects an ambition to be purpose-driven, pioneering power for future generations.

The company is developing a new multi-billion-pound electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility or gigafactory on the Gravity Smart Campus near Bridgwater in Somerset.

The cell manufacturing facility is set to be the biggest battery facility in the country and by the early 2030s will contribute almost half of the projected battery manufacturing capacity required for the UK automotive sector.

Industrialisation at the Somerset site has started, with construction to be completed in phases, and battery production set to begin in 2026.

Who’s here?

Find out what other battery technology companies are based on Milton Park.

Companies at Milton Park