A NEW innovation lab for science and technology businesses is set to open in Oxford.

Barclays has announced the launch of its latest Eagle Lab at the Wood Centre for Innovation in partnership with The Oxford Trust.

The Headington lab is designed to help entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes to access a range of skills to help them grow.

It is aimed at adding to work already done by the centre, which provides flexible space to science and technology start ups. Barclays now has a network of 25 labs including Oxford, which are helping nearly 2,000 entrepreneurs .

The Oxford lab will provide space for up to 40 entrepreneurs to use the onsite facilities, including 28 permanent and 12 hot desks.

There will be access to technical expertise, mentoring and connections required for science and technology businesses to expand.

Jon Hope, director of Barclays Eagle Labs, said: “Oxford is an ideal location for our first dedicated science and technology Lab and this new facility will further our support for Oxfordshire’s entrepreneurs.

"The Science and technology sector is of increasing importance to us in our daily lives and the opening of our lab in Oxford will help continue to develop this capability."

Steve Burgess, chief executive The Oxford Trust, said the organisation was 'really pleased' to partner with Barclays on the project.

He added: "This area of the city, widely known as ‘The Hill’, has a fast-growing life science, medtech, digital health and data sciences community. The Eagle Lab’s focus on incubating businesses in science and tech closely aligns with the trust’s strategy to encourage the pursuit of science and enterprise in the region.”

The Eagle Lab is due to open in March, businesses can register their interest at labs.uk.barclays/locations/oxford.