Royal Patron for Science and Innovation Campuses
On behalf of the Harwell and Daresbury Science and Innovation Campuses, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and their joint venture partners are delighted to announce that His Royal Highness (HRH) The Duke of York has agreed to be Royal Patron of the two national Science and Innovation Campuses.
HRH The Duke of York visiting ISIS / Space Science and Technology Department / Lasers
In his capacity as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, His Royal Highness will help raise the international profile of the two Campuses, at Daresbury in Cheshire and Harwell in Oxfordshire, as world-leading centres for business, investment in multidisciplinary science, research and development.
"We are delighted with confirmation that His Royal Highness will be the Royal Patron of the Campuses," STFC Chairman Professor Michael Sterling said. "He has visited both Daresbury and Harwell Campuses, and is an enthusiastic supporter of the benefits to the wider economy and society of a strong science and technology base in the UK. The Campuses are already attracting high levels of UK and international interest in, for example, the establishment of the European Space Agency’s UK Research Centre and the International Space Innovation Centre at Harwell and the Daresbury Innovation Centre. The additional support of His Royal Highness will help ensure even more rapid growth across both Campuses."
Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts said: "The Duke of York plays an important role in promoting the UK as a highly attractive destination for inward investment and I’m enormously pleased that he has agreed to be Royal Patron. His support will be invaluable in spreading the word that the Harwell and Daresbury campuses are at the leading edge of scientific discovery and technology development, and will help us build on the existing strong links with companies and researchers throughout the world."
In 2008 a Joint Venture was established at Harwell between the UK Atomic Energy Authority, STFC and international property group Goodman to deliver the Government’s vision for the creation of a world class centre for science, technology and innovation. At Daresbury, the current partners are STFC, the North West Regional Development Agency, the Universities of Manchester, Liverpool and Lancaster, and Halton Borough Council. The Daresbury campus is currently actively working towards establishing a similar public–private sector joint-venture partnership, as exists at the Harwell campus and related formal announcements are expected in the coming weeks.
The Campuses provide business, academia and government with new opportunities for multi-disciplinary cooperation across many important fields of science and technology, including biomedical, energy, security, space, materials, climate and the environment. In addition to STFC’s facilities and staff, other world leading research organisations and multi-national businesses have a strong presence.
At the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus some 150 organisations including leading edge companies and rapidly growing start-ups work alongside leading public sector researchers at the Medical Research Council, Health Protection Agency, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the European Space Agency, STFC and many more.
HRH Duke of York at the Daresbury Innovation Centre
At the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus there is the STFC Daresbury Laboratory – specialising in computational and accelerator science, nuclear physics, detector development and instrumentation; more than 100 high growth rate ultra-high technology businesses located in the Daresbury Innovation Centre; the Cockcroft Institute – a national centre of excellence for accelerator science involving co-located collaborative partnerships between STFC and several leading universities, the STFC Innovations Technical Access Centre – a suite of specialist chemistry and biology laboratories available for businesses; as well as Vanguard House now under construction which will be a 36,000 square foot building to enable yet further rapid further expansion of the campus activities.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), is one of Europe’s largest multi-disciplinary scientific research organisations. STFC operates the world-leading Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) which is part of the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire and the Daresbury Laboratory, part of the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus in Cheshire. The creation of world class centres of science, technology and innovation was formally endorsed in the UK’s 2006 Budget, which stated that "...the Government has decided that the Harwell site, which includes RAL, and the Daresbury site should become the Harwell and Daresbury Science and Innovation Campuses respectively. The Government will look to develop these Campuses so as to ensure that the facilities located here are internationally competitive, support world-class science, and maximise opportunities for knowledge transfer." STFC’s role is now to lead in defining and developing the science, technology and innovation aspects of both Campuses.
Notes for editors
Images
Images of the Duke of York on visits to the campuses are available from the press office.
Contact
The Duke of York
The Duke of York was invited to take on the role of the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment in 2001, after serving for 22 years in the Royal Navy, Working with Government, and in particular, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), His Royal Highness’s role involves promoting the UK as an attractive inward investment destination for foreign investors; creating more positive business conditions for British businesses investing overseas; and helping UK companies export their products to emerging and established markets.
The Duke of York is not paid for his work, although some of the expenses of the Office of Special Representative are met by UKTI and the Department for Transport.
Harwell Science and Innovation Campus
Harwell Science and Innovation Campus is being developed as a world-leading centre for science, technology and innovation. Extending to some 300 hectares, the Campus is home to a large and diverse range of science and technology-based organisations, including research organisations, commercial companies providing innovative products and services, and a range of rapidly growing start ups. Together with its unrivalled scientific facilities and services, Harwell provides a supportive environment for innovation with extensive development potential for inward investors looking to become part of a globally significant community.
Goodman
Goodman Group was selected as the private sector partner at Harwell where it has responsibility for the management and development of the Campus which will encompass the development of property, facilities and local infrastructure. A minimum of 100,000 sq m of laboratory, high technology industrial and office accommodation will be developed in the first phase of the project. Up to 5,000 high value knowledge-based jobs are also expected to be created.
Daresbury Science & Innovation Campus
Daresbury Science & Innovation Campus (Daresbury SIC) was formally opened in September 2006 by Lord Sainsbury, the then Science and Innovation Minister.
Daresbury SIC is an internationally recognised location for high-tech businesses and leading-edge science and is home to over 100 high-tech businesses. It represents a fundamentally new approach to driving UK competitiveness in global science and innovation. Daresbury SIC was formed by the Northwest Regional Development Agency and the Science and Technology Facilities Council, Lancaster University, the University of Liverpool, the University of Manchester and Halton Borough Council. In 2009 it was awarded the prestigious "Outstanding Science Park Award" by the UK Science Park Association. For further information please visit the Daresbury SIC (link opens in a new window) website.
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Page last updated: 03 August 2010
by Julia Maddock
