£5 million boost to Norwich as world-class science city
Norfolk and Norwich is poised to boost its world-class reputation as one of the country’s leading centres for scientific research, with the start of work on a £5 million extension to the innovation and incubation facilities at the Norwich Research Park. The development is the first stage of a plan to create up to 5,000 new jobs in science and scientific research at the NRP by 2021.
The new facility will attract start-up and growing businesses from all over the world involved in science, scientific research and innovation. Over 30 office and laboratory units are being constructed and fitted out in a totally refurbished and customised 4,215 sq m (43,000 sq ft) three storey building, located adjacent to the Institute of Food Research on the NRP.
Up to 300 new jobs will be created and the facility is planned to be the first of a number of new buildings to be erected at the NRP to accommodate the growing community of worldclass scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs being attracted to Norfolk and the NRP.
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the John Innes Centre (JIC), the Institute of Food Research (IFR) and the University of East Anglia are involved with the management of the facility, which will be controlled by a new joint venture company, Colney Innovations Ltd (CIL).
David Parfrey, BBSRC Director of Finance and director of CIL said: “Norfolk is a world-class location and this new and exciting development reflects Norfolk’s growing status on the world stage. The office and laboratory suites will provide unrivalled facilities for new and expanding research businesses attracted to the cluster of science facilities at the NRP.”
Funding for the development is coming from the Greater Norwich Development Partnership (GNDP), which will provide £1 million, the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), which will provide £1.4 million, the University of East Anglia, which will provide a further £500,000, and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), which will also provide £500,000 of funding, plus the land and buildings to host the new facilities, with the balance of the funding coming from the NRP partners.