Discovery Park, a hub for science and technology in Sandwich, Kent, has announced the arrival of two pioneering biotech companies to its innovation campus: iLoF (Intelligent Lab on Fiber and MilaK.
iLoF, a digital health company, and MilaK, a precision fermentation protein business, have now moved into their new laboratory space at Discovery Park.
iLoF is on a mission to accelerate personalised drug development by optimising clinical and pre-clinical drug development, beginning with a key focus on Alzheimer’s Disease.
The digital health company is leveraging advanced artificial intelligence, combined with a cutting-edge, proprietary optical technology, to build a robust library of unique optical fingerprints.
This allows for easy and non-invasive screening and stratification, allowing patients to receive treatments tailored for their needs, while making personalised therapies and drug discovery for complex diseases far more attainable.
Founded in 2019 and backed by investors including Microsoft Ventures and Hamamatsu Ventures Japan, the company has already received over $10 million in funding since its inception.
iLoF has an expert team of 30 scientists, entrepreneurs and investors spread across the UK and Europe. It was referred to Discovery Park by an investor, who recommended the Sandwich campus as it met the company’s needs for flexible space with an easy connection to London, along with partnerships with local Universities.
The facilities at Discovery Park will help to build culture amongst the previously hybrid team and allow for growth in the future. iLoF has plans to hire five new team members to be based in Sandwich by the end of 2025, with job roles in science and engineering.
Mehak Mumtaz, chief operating officer at iLoF, said: “Our optical technology platform is accelerating medicine towards a new, personalised era, where clinical trials and treatments can be easily matched to the patient.
“We are growing rapidly, making Discovery Park the perfect fit as our new home, offering flexibility for our next stage of growth.
“We’re already exploring synergies with other Discovery Park tenants, demonstrating the benefits of being part of this exciting ecosystem.”
Discovery Park’s second new tenant, MilaK, uses precision fermentation to develop next-generation, animal-free whey proteins. Its platform technology is initially focused on protein for sport nutrition, but the team see future applications in infant formula and medical nutrition.
Recently founded and already backed by Innovate UK, MilaK is in its R&D phase, with the expert team aiming to deliver its first nutrition supplement prototype within the next few months.
The MilaK team visited a number of science parks across the country in their search for their home, but “fell in love” with the facilities at Discovery Park, citing the collaborative environment and availability of specialist lab space.
MilaK also appreciated the Barclays Eagle Lab at Discovery Park, which offered an inspiring environment to host meetings and opportunities to grow through networking. Rapidly scaling up to a team of seven in a matter of months, the team have just hired two scientists based at Discovery Park.
MilaK founder Milena Hutchings said: “MilaK is building a platform for functional nutrition to support human health, whilst also being better for the environment.
“Our new R&D base at Discovery Park gives access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and opportunities to collaborate with other UK biotech innovators. This allows the team to accelerate our early-stage research timelines.
“We’ve been truly impressed by the facilities and ethos at Discovery Park and the support we have received through CoLab, together with Canterbury Christ Church University.”
Both companies have taken up residence in Discovery Park’s CoLab, a collaborative co-working lab space run in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University.
The CoLab space is designed with growing startups in mind, offering access to specialist lab equipment and a wider innovation ecosystem.
Chris Broom, head of business development at Discovery Park, explained: “We’re delighted to welcome both iLoF and MilaK to CoLab at Discovery Park. These companies represent exactly the kind of innovative, science-led businesses that thrive in our collaborative ecosystem.
“MilaK’s sustainable approach to protein production and iLoF’s AI-driven personalised medicine platform both address critical global challenges in health and sustainability. Their presence here strengthens Kent’s position as a leading destination for biotech companies developing technologies to shape our future.”
These two latest additions bring Discovery Park’s tenant community to over 180 companies, spanning biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and advanced manufacturing.
