21 March 2025 – iCAST member LabCycle was featured as part of a new Universities UK (UUK) campaign celebrating the impact of student-led start-ups which officially launched in Parliament on Wednesday 19 March. ‘Unis Start Up the UK’ is a UUK initiative showcasing the impacts of university-enabled business start-ups around the country, and the vital role these companies go on to play in delivering economic growth locally, regionally, and nationally.
The initiative highlights how universities equip entrepreneurs with the right skills through incubator hubs and how university-enabled innovation and enterprise is attracting investors and creating jobs.
Sustainable solutions through partnership with iCAST
LabCycle, co-founded by Bath graduate Dr Helen Liang, tackles the problem of plastic waste from lab-discarded single-use plastics and leverages iCAST’s expertise in sustainable technologies to advance their mission. This collaboration exemplifies iCAST’s commitment to supporting innovative businesses in developing and implementing circular economy solutions. LabCycle aims to recycle up to 60% of plastic lab waste to manufacture new lab consumables, creating a closed-loop system that aligns perfectly with iCAST’s focus on sustainable technologies.
Dr Liang’s entrepreneurial journey began at the end of 2019 when she met LabCycle co-founders at a three-day start-up programme run by SETsquared. Her path eventually led to the partnership with iCAST, which has provided critical research and development support by connecting LabCycle with expertise from the universities of Bath and Oxford.
Recognition at Parliament
“Being in Parliament for the launch of UUK’s ‘Unis to Start Up the UK’ campaign was a real honour,” said Dr Liang from LabCycle. “It was amazing to see LabCycle’s mission to tackle lab plastic waste highlighted alongside so many inspiring innovations. The University of Bath has been instrumental in my entrepreneurial journey — from early support through Enterprise Bath to SETsquared, iCAST, and the first pilot plant in the UK. Their belief in LabCycle’s vision has never wavered.”
This recognition underscores the importance of iCAST’s role in nurturing sustainable businesses and supporting the transition to more environmentally responsible practices in industry. As iCAST continues to bridge the gap between academic research and commercial application, success stories like LabCycle demonstrate the tangible impact of these collaborative efforts in advancing sustainable technologies.
Photo: Helen Liang (middle) stands next to Lord David Willett (left) and Prof. Sarah Hainsworth, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise) at the University of Bath, (right).
