Incubation

The Innovation Enterprise Zone Incubator and Accelerator houses businesses in a modern office space and offers a stepping-stone for companies that are in the early stages of development.

Located on the University's Stoke campus. You can choose from:

  • Renting a desk in a shared office space called The Hatchery* - £65 per month
  • Renting an office space, accommodating up to 4 people - £305 per month

Offices spaces and desks can be rented without deposits and on a 12-month contract.

* The Hatchery is a shared office space housing up to 5 businesses. It offers a stepping-stone for companies that are in the early stages of development.

Office space

Amenities

  • A fully equipped meeting room with integrated video conferencing equipment
  • A second breakout meeting room
  • A virtual reception area with post room
  • Collision spaces
  • Kitchen space/social area
  • On campus facilities including coffee shops, cafes, food courts and shops
  • R&D labs, equipment listed below

Transport links

  • By car: Easy reach of the M6 motorway, A50 and A34 if you’re travelling by car.
  • By rail: Two minutes’ walk of Stoke-on-Trent railway station. We are:
    • 35 minutes from Manchester 
    • 45 minutes from Birmingham
    • 90 minutes from London
  • By bus: Excellent bus links with the city centre and wider area.
  • Parking: On campus parking available for £10 a month.

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Specialist facilities

We have our own dedicated Advanced Materials Lab in the same building of the incubation office space. This specialist facility houses an extensive range of equipment to support and accelerate your business.

This facility sits alongside our digital, advanced manufacturing, media and maker facilities and is accessible to all incubation tenants and sector related businesses promoting cross-cutting industry and networking opportunities.

Quantum Efficiency Measurement System (QEM)

A flexible solution for measuring quantum efficiency the QEM is critical for materials research and cell design.  This system will enable you to modify the composition and typography of your materials to optimise conversion over the broadest possible range of wavelengths.

Our QEM system allows an overall external quantum efficiency value measurement as well as internal quantum efficiency measurements using an integrating sphere.

It has the capability to perform the following measurements:

  • IV Testing
  • Spectral Response (SR)
  • External Quantum Efficiency/IPCE (QE)
  • Internal Quantum Efficiency/IPCE (IQE)
  • Sample Reflectance (REFL)

With a fully integrated software package designed to seamlessly control the system to conduct measurements and characterise solar cells and current producing devices this machine can report by a multitude of parameters including:

  • Maximum QE
  • Maximum QE Wavelength
  • Maximum SR
  • Maximum SR Wavelength
  • Total Integrated Power
  • Maximum Reflectance
  • Maximum Reflectance Wavelength
  • Automated IV Curves
  • VOC, Isc, Rshunt, Rs, Pmax measurements

Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

A compact and versatile forensic laboratory instrument, the Laser Induced Breakdown Spectrometer (LIBS) is an ideal tool for elemental analysis of a sample, serving industries such as forensics, archaeology, engineering and ceramics

Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is a versatile analytical technique which offers significant advantages in speed, sensitivity and cost effectiveness over other processes such as XRF, SEM, and mass spectrometry. LIBS elemental analysis is fast, simple to operate, requires minimal sample preparation, gives immediate results of the elements and is sensitive to low parts per million.

Software
  • Uncomplicated and simply presented, integrated software providing the user with complete control of all system functions as well as automatic identification of elements.
  • Live video image of the sample chamber enables accurate sample alignment before spectra acquisition is triggered.
  • Comprehensive emissions library identifies elements present within a sample
Detector
  • Gateable back thinned scientific grade resistive gate CCD covering 225 – 380 nm
  • Gateable CMOS detectors covering 380 – 930 nm
  • 2 microsecond minimum integration time for UV detector
Spectrometer
  • Wavelength range of 225-930nm
  • 0.14nm optical resolution in the UV
  • Gateable detectors
Sample Chamber
  • Large examination bed. Analyse items up to 300 x 210mm
  • XYZ sample positioning/focusing stage
  • Integral colour camera with digital zoom for sample selection.
  • Provision for argon atmosphere for increased signal strength and signal averaging for improved signal to noise

Particle Size Analyser

Particle size and size distribution directly influences the material properties, such as rate of dissolution, reaction rate, how it looks and texture.

For example, in paint manufacture may be wanting a certain hue which is defined by the way certain size particles scatter light.

Targeted use will be by paint, coatings, and ceramics industries for quality control testing.

Ability to measure wet and dry samples.

Micro indentation and micro scratch testing

Aimed at the ceramics and engineering industries.

Micro Scratch Tester (MST) is widely used to characterize the practical adhesion failure of thin films and coatings with a typical thickness below 5μm. The Micro Scratch Tester is also used in the analysis of organic and inorganic coatings as well as soft and hard coatings.

Applications include thin and multilayer CVD, PVD, PECVD, photoresist, lacquers, paints, and several other types of films.

Research areas and industries utilize this instrument for microelectronics, optical coatings, protective and decorative surface coatings. Substrates may be soft or hard, including glass, semiconductors, refractive and organic materials.

Impedance analyser

Impedance is an important parameter used to characterize electronic components, the materials used to make components and electronic circuits.

Impedance analysis can also be used to characterize materials exhibiting dielectric behaviour such as biological tissue, foodstuffs or geological samples. It has a wide range of applications, including material analysis, device characterization, component testing and bio-impedance.

It comes in three distinct hardware implementations, and together these three implementations can probe from ultra low frequency to high frequency and can measure impedances from µΩ to TΩ.

Key specifications of an impedance analyser are the frequency range, impedance range, absolute impedance accuracy and phase angle accuracy.

Contact angle goniometer

The contact angle is the angle, conventionally measured through the liquid, where a liquid–vapor interface meets a solid surface. It quantifies the wettability of a solid surface by a liquid via the Young equation.

It changes with surface tension and hence with the temperature and purity of the liquid. The surface roughness has a strong effect on the contact angle and wettability of a surface. The effect of roughness depends on if the droplet will wet the surface grooves or if air pockets will be left between the droplet and the surface.

Digital USB microscope

The Staffordshire Advanced Materials, Incubator & Accelerator Centre (SAMIAC) is a specialist facility at the University that supports incubation and accelerates growth in the advanced materials sector and is part of UK Research Innovation (UKRI).

SAMIAC is a one-stop-shop for innovation, product development and growth in advanced materials that engages with the regional business base, utilising the research capacity at the University. Situated within the Enterprise Zone in Stoke-on-Trent, our facility offers:

  • 11 brand new incubator offices
  • The Hatchery
  • A fully equipped meeting room with integrated video conferencing equipment
  • A second breakout meeting room
  • A virtual reception area
  • Collision spaces

Support sectors

This specialist facility supports incubation and accelerates growth in the advanced materials sector and is part of UK Research Innovation (UKRI).  It has been designed to support businesses within the following sectors to develop new science-based products and processes:

  • Ceramics
  • Aerospace
  • Automotive
  • Energy
  • Medical Technology Agri-Tech

What to expect

Through SAMIAC, you will be backed by an award-winning institution.

Shortlisted for University of the Year

Times Higher Education Awards 2020

Top 250 Young University

Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020

78% of research regarded as world-leading or of international importance

Research Excellence Framework 2014

You will be mentored and supported with knowledge and expertise in a new dedicated innovation and enterprise environment. You will get access to professional training and development opportunities, academic and technical expertise, and support from our dedicated team to ensure you are maximising every opportunity available to support your business. 

Benefits 

 As a tenant, you will benefit from the following: 

  • Exclusive access to networking, mentoring, and training platforms
  • Discounted rates for recruiting University of Staffordshire interns
  • Dedicated account manager to make sure you are the first to hear of new initiatives
  • Access to on-campus facilities and discount for on-site gym
  • Publicity – press releases, social media, case studies and more
  • Free listing on our tenant webpage
  • Invitations to university events

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Get in touch with our Business Engagement team to find out more.

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

Top 5 for Social Inclusion

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

for First Generation Students

The Mail University Guide 2025

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021