3M BIC CEO, Henry Rigg, shares his insights on how West Yorkshire is transforming challenges into strategic opportunities for early-stage and growing health businesses – driven by the launch of the Huddersfield Health Innovation Incubator, the new Health Business Innovation Centre and the broader West Yorkshire Investment Zone.
Huddersfield has stepped confidently into the spotlight as a leader in health and MedTech innovation. With the University of Huddersfield’s National Health Innovation Campus taking shape and a new health business innovation centre on campus set to support cutting-edge enterprises, we’re not just talking about potential – we’re building it.
Huddersfield is demonstrating what’s possible when you combine vision, collaboration and the right infrastructure.
But it’s not just Huddersfield. Across the wider region, West Yorkshire has everything it needs to become a national leader in health and life sciences. With more than 600 health and life sciences companies, a strong MedTech backbone and some of the UK’s most forward-thinking universities, the region is primed for growth.
What makes this region truly special is its blend of talent, affordability, connectivity and collaborative culture – qualities that are becoming increasingly rare in saturated markets like the Golden Triangle.
Addressing the growing demand for lab space
Despite this momentum, there are challenges that could stall West Yorkshire’s health and life sciences growth – the most pressing being a lack of dedicated lab space.
A CBRE report commissioned earlier this year by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority highlighted the growing demand for lab and hybrid spaces in the region. As the life sciences and digital health sectors continue to expand, this demand is only set to increase.
Yet, a shortage of ‘grow-on’ space is making it difficult for innovative companies to scale within the region. If we want to maintain momentum and compete with better-established clusters, we must prioritise the development of flexible lab and office facilities tailored to the needs of MedTech and digital health enterprises.
Leeds currently has the largest share of available lab space, but it’s nearing capacity. Huddersfield is close behind, with the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre (3M BIC) offering hybrid office and lab space. The appetite for innovation is clear – now we need the infrastructure to match it.
Overcoming barriers to investment
One of the biggest hurdles is the lack of transparent market data. Without clear evidence of companies actively looking for space, it’s difficult to give investors the confidence they need to back new developments. In more established regions like the Golden Triangle, this kind of data is readily available.
Add to that the challenges of high construction costs, rising interest rates and relatively low rental yields, and it’s easy to see why speculative development remains risky. Developers are understandably drawn to safer, proven markets.
To attract investment and scale our health innovation ecosystem, West Yorkshire needs a clear, compelling value proposition – underpinned by real data and supported by targeted incentives.
Industrial Strategy Zones
Encouragingly, there are plans in place to address this gap. The University of Huddersfield has committed to delivering more lab and office space through a new Health Business Innovation Centre within the Emily Siddon Building at the National Health Innovation Campus (NHIC), opening in 2026.
Further potential development is earmarked across the wider NHIC site and the Station to Stadium Corridor – all key components of the West Yorkshire Investment Zone.
The Investment Zone also brings with it a much-needed incubator for early stage and growing health and wellbeing enterprises. Launched in September, the Huddersfield Health Innovation Incubator (HHII) is a fully funded business support programme designed to accelerate the development of innovative health, wellbeing and life sciences products and services.
Delivered in partnership between Kirklees Council, the University of Huddersfield, and the 3M BIC, HHII will provide the infrastructure, expertise and collaborative environment needed to help early-stage and growing businesses thrive.
Other similar projects will follow in Bradford and Leeds as part of the West Yorkshire Investment Zone, strengthening the region’s support for new to growing businesses in health and wellbeing.
From flexible lab spaces to purpose-built incubators, we’re creating the environments that early-stage and growing businesses need to succeed. And we’re doing it in a way that’s collaborative, inclusive and rooted in the strengths of our communities.
Turning challenges into strategic opportunities
The demand for hybrid lab, office and light manufacturing spaces is no longer speculative – it’s real and growing. However, without consistent, shared data, we risk missing a key opportunity to draw the investment needed to build these spaces. Regular collection and publication of demand data is not just useful – it’s essential.
Huddersfield is already making strong progress in supporting health and wellbeing innovation, with existing facilities like The Glass Box and 3M BIC offering office and lab space alongside business support, through the Huddersfield Health Innovation Incubator.
This is now being expanded through the Emily Siddon Building and the new Health Business Innovation Centre that will provide flexible offices, labs, product development technologies and expertise and collaboration space for high-growth health, wellbeing and MedTech companies from early 2026.
It’s also important to be strategic about where we build. Spreading resources too thinly across the region dilutes impact. Instead, we should focus investment on existing hubs – such as Leeds Innovation Village, the National Health Innovation Campus and Bradford’s Knowledge Quarter. These locations already have momentum and offer strong foundations for growth.
A region ready for the future
West Yorkshire has the talent, ambition and collaborative spirit needed to lead the next chapter in health and MedTech innovation. What’s needed now is the infrastructure, data and strategic investment to match.
With the right approach, the region can move from emerging player to national leader – and do so in a way that is inclusive, future-facing and grounded in the strengths of its communities.
