About us
The Institute for Biomedical Innovation (IBI) is the place where you can turn early-stage medical technologies into safe, sustainable, clinically-ready devices. It provides access to a state-of-the-art prototyping facility equipped for microfabrication, device assembly, and biological testing. An innovation support programme will guide researchers from academia and industry through the translational pathway including sustainability requirements, quality management, clinical trial design, and regulatory approval.
Open to academics, start-ups, and industry partners, the IBI provides shared laboratories, expert technical staff, and training to speed up the journey from laboratory ideas to real-world healthcare solutions, while also supporting more sustainable manufacturing and better preparedness for future health emergencies.
The Institute for Biomedical Innovation opened its doors in 2026. The Prototyping Facility has begun operations and is welcoming new users as capabilities continue to expand, while the Innovation Support program is currently in development. To find out more, explore the two components described below.
The two components of the IBI
The IBI hosts a 1,800 m² Prototyping Facility located in the northeast corner of the University’s West Cambridge site. The facility offers access to tools for component fabrication, metrology and testing, as well as device assembly and packaging, within a combination of cleanroom and standard laboratory spaces. A dedicated tissue culture laboratory supports in vitro validation and biocompatibility testing, while a human performance laboratory enables on‑site evaluation of wearable technologies with healthy volunteers.
Access to the Prototyping Facility is managed through a structured user programme that includes safety training, tool qualification, and cleanroom compliance. Following certification, users may operate equipment independently or work under staff supervision. Facility staff provide user training, technical support, and process development guidance.
The Innovation Support programme of the IBI will become available soon. It will operate as a subscription-based, open innovation service that will guide affiliates through mid- and high‑TRL translation, providing each project with a dedicated programme manager as a single point of contact to access quality management systems, manufacturing support, clinical trial design, and regulatory guidance. It will function as a one-stop shop that will complement and enhance the University’s existing translational ecosystem, working in close synergy with the University's animal research facilities and Surgical Training Centre, the Office for Translational Research, the Maxwell Centre, Cambridge Enterprise, Clinical Engineering Innovation, and the Clinical Trials Unit. The programme will also deliver targeted educational activities, including an annual conference and showcase, in‑depth translational programmes for academics, manufacturing skills workshops for companies, and apprenticeship opportunities, thereby cultivating a culture of open collaboration and building the next generation of biomedical innovation leaders.
