Daresbury Campus: An international centre of scientific expertise

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and Partners across the Northwest including Halton Borough Council and Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) welcome the Government’s recent commitment to the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus.

The Government has supported STFC’s plans to create two new major national research institutes at Daresbury, in Instrumentation and Computational Science and to build on the existing National Centre for Accelerator Science, the Cockcroft Institute .

The Government welcomes STFC’s decision, following the independent review of the Energy Recovery Linac Project at the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus, to complete its investment in that project and the further development of the Daresbury based expertise in this important scientific area.

The Campus will be developed as part of a partnership between the Science Technologies Facilities Council, the Northwest Regional Development Agency, private sector businesses , Halton Borough Council and the Universities of Manchester, Liverpool and Lancaster . It was formally designated as one of only two national science campuses in the Treasury budget statement of March 2006.

The Government has also asked Sir Tom McKillop, who is currently chairing the Manchester Independent Economic Review, an independent review into the future of the Manchester City Region and broader Northwest Economy, to lead a review of the campus to consider a strategy for how the Government's commitment to it can best be met.

The Review will assess the current and potential contribution of the Daresbury campus to science and innovation in the UK economy and to the Northwest in particular. It will have a particular reference to the
scale and scope needed to achieve national and international significance.

David Parr, Chief Executive of Halton Borough Council, said:

"Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus is a major part of Halton's economic development plans. We welcome STFC’s recent commitment to further scientific investment at Daresbury and look forward to working with Sir Tom McKillop on his review of Daresbury's international potential"

Prof Colin Whitehouse Deputy Chief Executive of Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and Head of the STFC Daresbury Laboratory said:

“STFC remains fully committed to developing the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus and we will continue to work very closely with all our campus partners to continue the rapid expansion of ultra-high technology and science activities on site.”

Professor Sir Martin Harris, Chairman of Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus said:

“Daresbury Campus has proven a major attraction for the private sector, we already have 62 companies based here and are working to attract significant further private investment. These recent announcements will further strengthen the value of Daresbury to the Northwest and national economy.”

Professor Drummond Bone, Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool University said:

“The University of Liverpool is a key partner in the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus. We welcome recent commitments by Government to invest in new research Institutes on site and look forward to playing a major role in their formation and operation ".

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For further information please contact Neil Roscoe, Senior Press Officer on 01925 400232 or mobile 07980 713282 or neil.roscoe@nwda.co.uk

For further information and to view previous press releases visit us at www.nwda.co.uk

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) leads the economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest and is responsible for:
• Supporting business growth and encouraging investment
• Matching skills provision to employer needs
• Creating the conditions for economic growth
• Connecting the region through effective transport and communication infrastructure
• Promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life

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