Unit 9
Unit 9 is a unique incubator designed as both a landing space and a launch pad for early-stage health-tech companies. Located at Birmingham Research Park, it offers flexible, short-term tenancies and access to essential facilities without the heavy cost of equipment or long-term leases.
What we offer
Our model combines affordability, specialist facilities, and a supportive environment to help health-tech innovators thrive:
- Affordable and flexible
We offer subsidised license fees that scale gradually, with short-term tenancies tailored for early-stage businesses. - Fully equipped
Access to shared facilities and specialist equipment through University of Birmingham partnerships, plus BioHub Birmingham® for cell culture and microbiology. - Supportive ecosystem
Business support from University of Birmingham Enterprise, Entrepreneurs-in-Residence and networking within a vibrant research community.
Communal spaces and meeting rooms at Birmingham Research Park
Reduced prices via OBN’s biomedical purchasing consortium
Well-being services for founders and teams
Signposting to funding, collaborations, and talent
Transition support for scaling beyond Unit 9
Application criteria
Begin a Unit 9 applicationUnit 9 supports companies that are looking to develop innovative devices, medicines, procedures, or systems to solve a health problem or improve quality of life.
Companies need to be able to articulate their future plans and ambitions on entry, and will be asked to engage with business support programmes provided, and attend a minimum of one mentoring session per month.
Companies are asked to participate in stakeholder group meetings to discuss progress of project milestones and evaluate enquiries and help develop case studies, to support promotional activity and follow requirements, including brand guidelines, of any funding bodies.
The Unit 9 space was invaluable for Fallouh Healthcare. During our residency, we produced the first prototype of PerDeCT™, which measures cardiac output for early detection of cardiac tamponade after surgery. We didn’t want a long-term tenancy in an expensive incubator—we needed bench space and a short-term tenancy.
Unit 9 in the news
Contact us
Email the Unit 9 teamIf you have any questions about how we can help your business or if you need more information to progress your application, please get in touch.