The Smart Things Accelerator Centre (STAC) has opened its new “thebeyond” campus at Glasgow’s Skypark, which CEO and co-founder Paul Wilson says will be Europe’s largest “smart things” hub.

The 22,000 square foot campus comprises a fully furnished electronics lab, a fabrication lab, and an R&D space, in addition to a media lab, an event space, and a 250-desk coworking and hot desk area.

“The launch of thebeyond takes STAC to the next level as we continue on our mission to build world-class startups who can compete on a global level,” said Wilson. “We support our companies through mentorship, access to talent, funding, and networks, and it’s a model which is unique on the Scottish tech scene.”

“We now have a comprehensive environment to accelerate the entire product development process, providing inventors and developers with the tools and resources needed to bring their ideas to life, from concept to prototype,” he added.

thebeyond has been delivered via STAC’s partnership with the UK government and Glasgow City Council, supported by a multi-million private and public sector investment. This includes £2.5 million from global investment firm Federated Hermes, aimed at transforming Glasgow into a global smart things and IoT innovation hub.

The campus will be what Wilson describes as STAC’s “fourth pillar,” alongside STAC Scale, the industry-led 18-month mentorship programme that has supported four cohorts totalling over 50 companies to date; talent platform STAC Jobs; and STAC Invest, set to launch over the next few weeks, connecting investors to IoT and smart things startups who are set to scale.

Recommended reading

• STAC Launches Fourth Cohort and Appoints New Chair
• Glasgow Tech Hub ‘thebeyond’ Secures £2.5 Million Investment
• STAC and Volvo Cars Announce Strategic Partnership

STAC itself is supported by a range of UK and international corporates, including Pelion, Plexus, and Keysight Technologies. The technology accelerator announced its latest industry partnership in June, to provide an innovation pipeline for Swedish carmaker Volvo Cars, a pioneer in the electric vehicle (EV) market.

“Our mission is to transform Scotland’s rich research and innovation into entrepreneurial ventures that can go on to compete at a global level, and the partnership with Volvo opens up immediate opportunities for collaboration at scale for STAC’s portfolio of startups,” further added Wilson.