Agilent Technologies has been named a founding member of CO:LABS at Harwell Campus – a new 120,000 sq ft laboratory development designed to support emerging and scaling businesses working in life-changing science.
The partnership will see Agilent establish a dedicated demonstration laboratory within CO:LABS, giving early-stage companies access to advanced spectroscopy and life-science instrumentation that can otherwise be difficult for young businesses to access during the early stages of development.
The new facility is expected to open later in 2026 and will form part of Harwell Campus’ expanding life-sciences and health technology ecosystem.
For startups, the partnership is intended to offer more than access to equipment. Companies will also be able to draw on Agilent’s technical expertise, application support and hands-on training, helping them generate high-quality data, validate technologies and progress research towards commercial applications.
Agilent joins The Rosalind Franklin Institute as a founding member of CO:LABS, with the organisations set to contribute scientific infrastructure, expertise and technology to the development.
The initiative reflects Harwell’s growing role as a base for science and technology businesses, bringing established industry expertise closer to companies developing new technologies.
Building scientific capability at Harwell
Agilent’s relationship with Harwell Campus has longstanding roots. Its Raman Spectroscopy capabilities can be traced back to Cobalt Light Systems, a technology company spun out of the Central Laser Facility before being acquired by Agilent.
Harwell is now home to Agilent’s Global Centre for Raman Spectroscopy, providing a further link between the company and the Oxfordshire science and innovation community.
Gub Singh, UK Country General Manager at Agilent Technologies, said Harwell had long been an important centre for scientific discovery and innovation.
“CO:LABS creates an exciting environment for collaboration across the Harwell ecosystem,” he said, adding that Agilent would work with companies on campus to help accelerate new ideas and scientific breakthroughs.
Jim Stretton, Managing Director of Harwell Campus, described Agilent’s involvement as a significant milestone for CO:LABS.
He said access to specialist expertise and advanced analytical technologies could be critical for early-stage companies seeking to turn promising ideas into proven solutions.
A new home for life-science businesses
CO:LABS has been designed specifically to support companies at different stages of development, from startups through to scaling science businesses.
The 120,000 sq ft development will include fully fitted and serviced laboratories, office space, collaboration areas, conference and presentation facilities, alongside dedicated onsite laboratory management.
The addition of Agilent’s demonstration laboratory will give businesses based within CO:LABS, as well as companies elsewhere on the wider Harwell Campus, an opportunity to work directly with industry-standard analytical technologies.
For Oxfordshire, the development adds another piece to the county’s increasingly prominent life-sciences and technology infrastructure, with Harwell continuing to bring together startups, research organisations and established international companies.
CO:LABS is scheduled to open later in 2026.
