The Council’s leader, Cllr Paul Crossley, has welcomed a top award for SETsquared, the innovation centre part-run by the University of Bath.
The Innovation Centre has been named as the top university business incubator in Europe and second best in the world.
In a ranking published this week by the University Business Incubator (UBI) Index, SETsquared, based at the Innovation Centre in Carpenter House, Bath, is placed among the world’s leading three incubators.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Crossley (Lib Dem, Southdown), said: “This is great news for our area and is proof of the fantastic work being done by the University of Bath in our City.
“The Council is seeking to develop further its partnership with the University to increase innovation and design in Bath including a joint bid to the Local Enterprise Partnership to expand the innovation offer in Bath’s Enterprise Area.
“But in addition to working with the University we have also developed The Guild Co-Working Hub in the Guildhall and we are developing a partnership with BMT to redevelop Bath Quays South.
“Creating jobs based on innovation, design and creativity is a major theme of our employment and jobs growth at the moment.”
Dhruv Bhatli, co-founder and director of research at UBI Index, said: “SETsquared did really well on our Global Benchmark and beat numerous business incubators based at top universities. They are one of the best incubation places in the world and certainly the best in Europe, as evidenced from their performance on our global benchmark.
“It is an outstanding business incubator that provides exceptional quality to its client companies and produces growth companies and high economic impact.”
Simon Bond, SETsquared Innovation Director and Director of Bath’s Innovation Centre, said: “I’m delighted by the recognition in this year’s UBI Index – it’s an honour and validates our focus and commitment to entrepreneurs and the businesses that they create.
“The high ranking also comes with responsibility – the UBI Index highlights that Europe’s university business incubators have to work more effectively in order to compete on the world stage.
“SETsquared must now reach out to like-minded organisations to form partnerships and collaborations that add value for our entrepreneurs and client businesses.”
