Thursday December 18th 2025
Edinburgh Innovation Hub
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
The newly opened Edinburgh Innovation Hub (EIH) in East Lothian has welcomed its first tenant – Forge Minerals, moving in just two weeks after EIH’s practical completion.
The Edinburgh Innovation Hub is a joint venture between East Lothian Council and Queen Margaret University (QMU).
Opened this year, the hub aims to be a nationally significant centre for innovation-driven business growth, creating new high-value employment, being the anchor project for the planned Edinburgh Innovation Park.
The first tenant, Forge Minerals, is a producer of high-performance magnesium carbonate, offering a low-carbon alternative to today’s resource-intensive minerals, redefining what’s possible in mineral processing. By uniting cutting-edge engineering and fast-cycle laboratory experimentation, they’re building scalable processes designed to produce sustainable alternatives with no green premium.
The new lab at EIH is Forge Minerals’ first dedicated research facility, with the purpose-built space enabling faster experimentation and quicker progression. The lab allows the company to conduct in-house test work, stronger process development, and deeper integration between engineering, modelling, and experimental programmes.
Their current collaboration with the University of Edinburgh and other partners will deepen as their work scales, due to the facility at EIH.
Ian Spencer, CEO of Forge Minerals said:
“Opening our first laboratory in the new Edinburgh Innovation Hub is an important milestone for Forge Minerals. As we ramp up our testing and development programme, we need a purpose-built space that allows rapid experimentation, iteration, and technical validation.
“EIH offers exactly that—along with the crucial ability to scale our footprint as we grow. For a fast-moving startup, being able to expand within the same facility is invaluable. We’re proud to be the first tenant to launch a lab here, and we’re excited to work with EIH to advance the technologies that will underpin sustainable minerals for the future.”
The 7,200 hub, which received planning permission last September, offers flexible laboratory, office and meeting spaces for rent by small to medium businesses with a particular focus on life sciences, technology, food and drink and innovation start-ups.
EIH is part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal (ESESCRD) and is supported by £28.6 million from the UK Government, £1.4 million from the Scottish Government and £10 million from East Lothian Council.
Marian McNeil, CEO of EIH said:
“We are delighted to welcome Forge Minerals to EIH and are excited to support them on their journey. Their innovation, that has huge potential to contribute to a more sustainable future, is a great fit for the ambitions of EIH to contribute to the economic growth of the region and Scotland as a whole.”
Councillor Norman Hampshire, Leader of East Lothian Council, said:
“This is a first but hugely important step forward for the Edinburgh Innovation Hub. In welcoming this first tenant, the vision of creating a flexible, forward-thinking development space for innovative new and existing businesses, right here in East Lothian, is coming to fruition. I wish Forge Minerals every success and look forward to welcoming new tenants from a variety of industries in the coming months – and to seeing our vision of innovation and job creation flourish.”
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