Sunday April 19, 2026 14:41
The UK’s push to build a more integrated innovation economy is increasingly taking place in east London, where Here East has transformed into one of the largest multi-sector technology campuses in the country.
Located in the former Olympic press and broadcast center in Stratford, the 1.2 million square foot location aims to bring together universities, start-ups, corporations and creative industries under one roof.
More than 6,500 people now work and study at more than 30 organisations, and Oxford Economics estimates the campus supports more than 10,000 jobs across the country.
CEO Gavin Poole said the model was built to allow companies to scale within one ecosystem rather than relocating as they grow.
“Companies are by nature looking for growth, and we give them the opportunity to grow,” he said AM City.
Demand for space is also increasing along with increased activity in the technology and property markets.
“We’ve been fighting since March to keep the numbers down,” Poole said. “From February things started to pick up.”
Startup and industry in the same space
The campus reflects a wider shift in UK innovation policy towards clustering, placing research institutes, universities, early-stage companies and large corporations in close proximity to encourage collaboration.
At Here East, this is done across academic labs, production studios and commercial offices, as well as more creative spaces.
University facilities from UCL and Loughborough focus on areas such as robotics or advanced manufacturing, while nearby, start-ups are working on everything from medical devices to film technology.
One of the founders developing on-site surgical robotics tells the story AM City: “Right now we are pre-clinical, we have done animal trials, but this summer we will do human trials.”
Apart from research-based businesses, creative and media businesses are also developing on campus.
Hawk, the video production startup behind films like The Running Man, started with a small team, but is now expanding its operations in Here East as demand for production infrastructure increases.
“This is a startup. The same thing happens with every startup, you sit there wondering: where are we going to put the money?” said the founder AM City.
East’s goal here is to reduce barriers to that growth, including offering ready-to-use space and flexibility in expansion.
“What we’re doing is giving 12,000 square feet of work space to startups, with the hope that they’ll hit the jackpot,” Poole said. “If something goes wrong, it’s not a big deal… we’ll just take it back and rent it to someone else.”
At the center of campus is Plexal, an innovation center that connects startups with companies and government-backed programs.
“It’s a hub for member organizations, from small startups to some of the larger corporate partners,” Poole said. “Banks like Barclays have a space here for their innovation teams to know what’s happening in the space.”
The site is also expanding its educational and creative footprint. NABA, Italy’s largest Academy of Fine Arts, opens its first campus outside Italy in Here East, joining five universities already based there.
Poole said: “London has long been a global reference point for fashion design, arts and creative education, and East London is a key driver of growth for these sectors.”
With further initiatives planned around immersive technology and the experience economy, Here East becomes a central point in the UK’s efforts to build a more integrated innovation system.
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