Catalyst centre will draw on skills of entrepreneurs and academics

The Catalyst centre on the University of York campus is due to open in November, and has already attracted interest from around 20 potential occupants.

Jobs are also expected to be created in the Food and Environment Research agency's base at Sand Hutton, near York, where space will soon become available for entrepreneurs who want to turn their bright ideas into businesses.

Science City York, the public sector-funded body that supports hi-tech businesses, plans to hire two more staff as part of a strategy that aims to turn York into a global centre of excellence for developing "green" energy.

A specialist in knowledge transfer – who will improve communications between business and academics – is being sought, as well as an expert in biorenewables. Both posts are expected to have salaries of between 30,000 and 35,000 a year.

Science City York also plans to develop a specialist property strategy to ensure there are enough premises in York for science and technology-based companies.

Nicola Spence, the chief executive of Science City York, said: "It's about having the right skills and space so we can accelerate."

Last year, the European Commission approved a 19.7m investment to nurture hi-tech businesses.

By 2014, the project, which is being led by Science City York in partnership with the University of York and The Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera), is expected to increase the productivity of the region's hi-tech industries by 37m.

More than 15m is helping to fund the expansion of facilities on the University of York's Heslington East campus, which will include the development of a central "hub" building. The hub will house a creative technology centre, and offer research, office and exhibition space, creating a base for start-up and early-stage businesses.

The accommodation for fast growing businesses will include The Catalyst, an on-campus business incubation facility which will be managed by York Science Park to support the growth of businesses in the digital, creative and media sectors.

Tracey Smith, the general manager of York Science Park, said entrepreneurs who had expressed an interest in the Catalyst so far included illustrators and internet-based analysis firms.

Imogen Foster, the communications manager at Science City York, said: "It will bring businesses that have been hidden in the home environment out into the open."

Professor Colin Mellors, the pro-vice chancellor of the University of York, said the Catalyst was expected to create around 200 jobs by 2014.

Prof Mellors believed occupiers of the hub and Catalyst would benefit from being close to the university's departments of computer science, law and management, and theatre, film and television. The entrepreneurs would find it easier to make informal ties with academics who might provide them with ideas for developing their business, he argued.

He added: "Serendipity has often produced some of the most interesting results."

Work is progressing on an Innovation Campus at Fera's Sand Hutton laboratory complex on the outskirts of York.

Rod Anson, Fera's head of corporate development, said: "We want to get a range of six or seven commercial enterprises which are in a high-growth phase to come on the site. We are creating opportunities for the creation of 100 jobs up to 2014."

JOINT VENTURE EMBRACES COUNCIL AND UNIVERSITY

Science City York was established in 1998 as a partnership between City of York Council and The University of York with backing from business. It became a joint venture company involving the university and the council in 2007.

Its staff numbers will increase from 13 to 18 this year when new appointments are made with support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), City of York Council and Yorkshire Forward. Earlier this year, Science City York agreed a new contract with Yorkshire Forward worth 2.8m.

The Yorkshire and The Humber ERDF Programme was launched in February 2008 and is managed by Yorkshire Forward on behalf of a regional partnership including the Government, European Commission and regional bodies.

The ERDF was set up to stimulate economic development in less prosperous parts of the European Union.

The University of York was founded in 1963 with 200 stud ents. It has 12,000 students and more than 30 academic departments and research centres.

The Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) is an executive agency of the Government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.