Environmental Space Living Lab

The Environmental Space Living Lab (ESLL), is a well-equipped facility in East Devon. Based at our Bicton College campus, it offers a unique platform for businesses, government agencies, researchers and communities to collaborate in creating sustainable solutions to the challenges and opportunities facing our natural world.

The ESLL aims to advance scalable, commercially viable technologies addressing environmental and supply chain challenges for farmers and end-users. By connecting developers with farmers, businesses, and academia, we foster collaboration, provide expertise, equipment, and test environments, and support prototype development and market demonstrations. This ensures sustainable technologies benefit stakeholders, strengthen supply chains, and improve environmental health.

A testbed for innovation

The Environmental Space Living Lab is a space for:

• Collaborative innovation: Partner with like-minded organisations to develop and test sustainable technologies and practices

• Real-world test conditions: Benefit from the diverse and dynamic environment of Bicton College’s parkland, farm, lakes and woodland

• A focus on sustainability: Contribute to a more resilient and nature-rich future through research and development efforts

• Open innovation: Share knowledge, data, and findings to foster broader community benefits

A unique environment

The Environmental Space Living Lab is on our Bicton College Campus – a rural academic establishment, specialising in environmental and land-based studies.

Our campus comprises stunning Grade I listed parkland, a historic Georgian manor, lakes, woodland and a 126-hectare farm, which includes sheep, beef and dairy herds, along with arable and horticultural production.

The College is uniquely situated within the protected East Devon National Landscape (formerly known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), which spans 260 square kilometres of wooded valleys, heathland, as well as a section of the Jurassic Coast. The College has also partnered with the 5,000-hectare Heath to Sea Landscape Recovery Project, which aims to create a resilient nature-rich landscape that supports both ecological health along with the needs of communities.

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Benefit from our Living Lab

The Environmental Space Living Lab offers:

• Well-equipped facilities: Access to modern conference rooms, hot-desking spaces, and workshop areas for both research and events

• Expert support: Leverage Bicton College’s expertise in agriculture, environmental sciences, and land-based education

• Tailored solutions: Benefit from bespoke training programs, student projects, and customised research support

• Prime location: Experience the beauty and ecological significance of the East Devon National Landscape

Find out more about ESLL here

ESLL Partners

The project is led by Satellite Applications Catapult, and co-funded by Somerset Council and Innovate UK. The ESLL collaborates with consortium partners including Petroc College, Bicton College, Bridgwater and Taunton College, the North Devon Biosphere, University of Plymouth, University of Exeter, and Devon and Dorset County Councils.