ZEISS and Bruntwood SciTech announce strategic partnership

Jena, Germany/ Manchester, United Kingdom | 10 June 2026 | ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions

Bruntwood SciTech, the UK’s leading developer of innovation districts, and ZEISS have announced a strategic partnership designed to support life science research and accelerate innovation across the UK.

The partnership brings the advanced imaging expertise of ZEISS into Bruntwood SciTech’s network of life science campuses, providing researchers and growing life science businesses with access to cutting edge microscopy technology, specialist training, and expert support.

Together, ZEISS and Bruntwood SciTech – a joint venture between Bruntwood, L&G and Greater Manchester Pension Fund – aim to create an environment that enables collaboration, accelerates scientific discovery, and supports life science businesses from early-stage innovation through to scale-up.

The collaboration is designed to accelerate progress in areas such as drug discovery, cell biology, and biomedical research, while embedding world class scientific capability directly within Bruntwood SciTech’s innovation ecosystems. Through this partnership ZEISS will help empower tenant researchers with access to advanced imaging tools that support biotech and pharmaceutical innovation.

As part of the partnership, researchers based at Bruntwood SciTech’s Alderley Park campus have access to the ZEISS Axiovert 5 digital, an all-in-one inverted microscope designed for routine cell culture and research workflows. The system combines high quality optics with digital imaging and AI assisted tools to support efficiency, consistency, and confidence in everyday laboratory work.

Aerial view of the Alderley Park campus with modern office buildings set beside a large lake, surrounded by dense woodland under a clear blue sky. — Bruntwood SciTech is located at Alderley Park – a 400-acre woodland and parkland campus, home to over 250 businesses.

Alongside access to equipment, the ZEISS team provide training and ongoing technical support to ensure researchers and businesses can maximize the value and impact of the technology. The partnership also opens opportunities for collaboration through access to ZEISS application specialists and industry experts, supporting researchers as they progress projects from early-stage discovery through to commercialization and scale-up.

Dean Edwards, Head of Sales and Service at Research Microscopy Solutions UK, ZEISS, said: “At ZEISS, we are committed to enabling scientific progress by making advanced imaging technology accessible to researchers where they work. Our partnership with Bruntwood SciTech reflects a shared ambition to support life science innovation by combining world class infrastructure with leading microscopy expertise. We’re excited to collaborate with researchers across Bruntwood SciTech’s campuses and support the breakthroughs that will shape the future of healthcare.”

In addition to on-site access and support, ZEISS will host regular lunch and learn sessions, application focused talks, and pop-up imaging clinics across Bruntwood SciTech locations, offering free imaging consultations and opportunities to explore best practice and emerging techniques.

Gareth Hampton, Head of Laboratory Services at Alderley Park said: “Our partnership with ZEISS strengthens the innovation ecosystem we’ve built across our life science campuses. Access to industry leading imaging technology and expert guidance is a significant advantage, particularly for early stage and scaling businesses. By working with ZEISS, we’re creating more opportunities for collaboration, discovery and innovation across our life science community.”

Bruntwood SciTech’s campuses are designed to reduce barriers to innovation by combining high quality laboratory and office space with shared facilities, specialist support, and access to a connected community of partners, collaborators, and investors.

Press Contact Kristin Unger ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions

About Alderley Park

Alderley Park is a premier life science and innovation campus where world-leading science, innovation and stylish living come together to create a place like no other. Part of Bruntwood SciTech - a joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General and Greater Manchester Pension Fund - Alderley Park is undergoing a £247m investment aimed at transforming it into a leading science and technology campus and meet the growing demand for collaborative research environments.

Home to the internationally-recognized Mereside bioscience campus and tech and digital hub Glasshouse, the Park offers more than 1 million sq ft of high specification lab and office space, a range of scientific services and an accelerator delivering a comprehensive program of business support for start-ups and scale-ups. It is also home to a vibrant and fast-growing community of over 250 life science and tech businesses and more than 4,000 people.

The Park also has a wide range of amenities including a conference center complete with a 232 seat auditorium and meeting rooms, gym, outdoor sports pitches and the Churchill Tree restaurant. It also offers unrivalled 100GB connectivity, and is part of the Cheshire Science Corridor.

About ZEISS

ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the fields of optics and optoelectronics. In the previous fiscal year, the ZEISS Group generated annual revenue totaling almost 12 billion euros in its four segments Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, and Consumer Markets (September 30, 2025).

For its customers, ZEISS develops, produces, and distributes highly innovative solutions for industrial metrology and quality assurance, microscopy solutions for the life sciences and materials research, and medical technology solutions for diagnostics and treatment in ophthalmology and microsurgery. The name ZEISS is also synonymous with the world's leading lithography optics, which are used by the chip industry to manufacture semiconductor components. There is global demand for trendsetting ZEISS brand products such as eyeglass lenses, camera lenses, and binoculars.

With a portfolio aligned with future growth areas like digitalization, healthcare, and Smart Production and a strong brand, ZEISS is shaping the future of technology and constantly advancing the world of optics and related fields with its solutions. The company's significant, sustainable investments in research and development lay the foundation for the success and continued expansion of ZEISS' technology and market leadership. ZEISS invests 15 percent of its revenue in research and development – this high level of expenditure has a long tradition at ZEISS and is also an investment in the future.

With over 46,600 employees, ZEISS is active globally in around 50 countries with more than 60 sales and service locations, around 40 research and development facilities, and 30 production facilities worldwide (September 30, 2025). Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. The Carl Zeiss Foundation, one of the largest foundations in Germany committed to the promotion of science, is the sole owner of the holding company, Carl Zeiss AG.

Further information at www.zeiss.com

ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions

ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions is the leading provider of light, electron, X-ray microscope systems, correlative microscopy and software solutions leveraging AI technologies. The portfolio comprises of products and services for life sciences, materials and industrial research, as well as education and clinical routine applications. The unit is headquartered in Jena. Additional production and development sites are located in Germany, UK, USA, China and Switzerland. ZEISS Research Microscopy Solutions is part of the Industrial Quality & Research segment.

Further information at www.zeiss.com/microscopy