Positioning Glasgow to be Europe’s largest “smart things” hub
The Smart Things Accelerator Centre (STAC) is Scotland’s industry-led accelerator dedicated to scaling Internet of Things (IoT) and hardware-focused startups. Established in 2021 and headquartered in Glasgow, STAC supports early-stage ventures through a comprehensive suite of services, including an 18-month mentorship programme (STAC Scale), investment readiness support (STAC Invest), and talent acquisition assistance (STAC Jobs) .
STAC key stats
Companies supported
Jobs created
Raised in investment
STAC's Offer
STAC has developed a comprehensive suite of products and services to support Smart Things startups to develop their operations, find investment and attract talent
STAC | SCALE
Helping tech start-ups build companies ready for international success with an industry led 18 month programme.
STAC | INVEST
Connecting investors to “things” focused start-ups, built ready for scale. Complexity simplified, investments de-risked.
STAC | JOBS
Talent platform connecting technology pioneers with the right talent to build world-class “things” in Scotland.
In partnership with Glasgow City Council and the UK Government, STAC launched 'thebeyond'—a 22,000 sq ft innovation campus at Skypark—featuring state-of-the-art labs, co-working spaces, and prototyping facilities.
This initiative aims to position Glasgow as Europe's largest smart things and IoT innovation hub, fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government to drive economic growth and technological advancement .
The real benefit of Glasgow is a talent pool of people who want to build something that matters.
Rory Buchanan - Sonos Scotland
13-week accelerator designed to nurture Deep Tech ventures
The University of Glasgow Infinity G venture builder programme, hosted by STAC focuses on leveraging cutting-edge science and engineering to solve some of the world’s most pressing global challenges. From AI and quantum computing to biotechnology, participants in the programme are driving innovation in areas like healthcare, energy, and environmental protection, all with a view to creating sustainable and scalable solutions.
Partnerships accelerating innovation
STAC brings together startups with leading corporate partners and public sector bodies to accelerate innovation in connected devices and IoT. These cross-sector partnerships provide startups with real-world challenges, industry insight, and routes to market, while partners gain early access to emerging technologies and fresh thinking. This collaborative model not only supports business growth but also drives innovation that benefits industry and society alike.
Partnerships accelerating innovation
STAC brings together startups with leading corporate partners and public sector bodies to accelerate innovation in connected devices and IoT. These cross-sector partnerships provide startups with real-world challenges, industry insight, and routes to market, while partners gain early access to emerging technologies and fresh thinking. This collaborative model not only supports business growth but also drives innovation that benefits industry and society alike.