18th May 2012
EEDA funding supports foundation of regional enterprise hub at Colworth Science Park
20th Oct 2009
Colworth Science Park in Bedfordshire, which is being developed by Unilever and global property group Goodman, is set to become a regional enterprise hub by bringing together academia, SMEs and other life science companies to drive technology transfer and support economic growth in the region.
EEDA has supported this project with £4.4m to enable Cranfield University and the University of Cambridge to establish a presence at Colworth Science Park in a new amenities centre. This will be complemented by the establishment of a scientific presence in an Innovation Centre endorsed by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) that will provide a research facility for IFR Extra Ltd, part of the Institute for Food Research.
The 21,000 sq ft amenities centre will allow Cranfield University and the University of Cambridge’s Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) to establish a presence at Colworth Science Park, alongside one of Unilever’s global research facilities and 16 SME companies, which undertake cutting-edge research, prototyping and product development. In addition to providing accommodation for the business schools, the amenities centre will incorporate a café and restaurant, and state-of-the-art meeting and conference facilities capable of hosting up to 200 people.
The 35,000 sq ft Innovation Centre, will offer flexible laboratory and office suites designed to accommodate the IFR Extra Ltd, growing businesses and academics in a collaborative environment. Goodman and Unilever, who formed a 50:50 joint venture to develop the 1,200 acre site, hope the Innovation Centre will help address a shortage of scientific lab space in the area with an ‘easy in/ easy out’ leasing policy, in addition to supporting the growth of knowledge firms in the food, health and wellness sector. Construction work will begin on both buildings later this year, with completion expected at the end of 2010.
Commenting on the announcement Dr. Sally Ann Forsyth, Goodman’s Director of Science Parks said: “Our vision is to develop Colworth as an open innovation science park, which will draw academia, large corporates and SMEs together to engage in knowledge transfer and accelerate the commercialisation of R&D.”
She continued: “This vision has already attracted two world-class academic institutions to locate amongst leading scientists from global blue-chip and start-up companies. The new facilities will form the foundation of Colworth as an enterprise hub and create a national centre of excellence in food, health and wellness. We hope that this will trigger further inward investment in Colworth and lead to new jobs for the Bedfordshire region.”
Paul May, Executive Director Innovation, at EEDA said: “EEDA’s support to create the Enterprise Hub at Colworth reinforces the region’s position as a world leader in life sciences and is a great example of how regional interventions can stimulate projects of national significance with a global outreach.
“Colworth Science Park will create a unique environment that will provide local businesses with access to world class research and development facilities and know-how, helping to turn their ideas into commercial success.”
