Watch: Frontier IP CEO Neil Crabb discusses how the innovation hub will help to accelerate growth

16/6/2025

Frontier IP Group PLC CEO Neil Crabb talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the company's new strategic partnership with Abstract Securities. The partnership will see Frontier IP serve as the anchor tenant in a newly developed science centre in Cambridge, occupying 18,000 square feet of a 140,000 square foot facility. Frontier IP has been paid an inducement fee of £1 million and will use the space rent free for the first year.

Neil explained that the move is designed to support portfolio and startup companies by providing world-class facilities and access to Frontier IP's wider ecosystem of partners and investors.

He noted: "By having this focal point plugged into an ecosystem already interested in our clusters, you get an acceleration for the companies that are located there." With lab space in Cambridge at 97% occupancy, Frontier IP aims to address the supply-demand imbalance while offering specifications suited to high-end research needs.

Crabb highlighted the added benefits of consolidating companies in one location, fostering collaboration, and reducing startup friction. He emphasised that even companies not physically based at the centre would still benefit from the enriched ecosystem through events and investor engagement opportunities. Drawing from previous successful initiatives at its Duxford site and in Portugal, the company plans more regular interactions and showcases.

Crabb said, "You can't sell to customers that don't know you exist… this is a way of helping you to get that." He added that the new centre could eventually host regular showcases every six to twelve months, further enhancing visibility for the startups. Updates from the broader portfolio were also shared. Alusid recently secured a second European distributor and is expanding its commercial presence. 2D Photonics raised significant new funding for scaling operations. Frontier IP is also monitoring potential developments from Pulsiv and other companies nearing commercial roll out stages.