Government labs offer space to fast-growing science firms

With £3m funding from the European Regional Development Fund and Defra, the agency has turned part of its Sand Hutton site into The York Science and Enterprise Centre.

FERA is looking for scientific companies with the capacity for high growth to move into the centre’s laboratory and office space.

Adrian Belton, the chief executive of Fera, said the development could lead to the creation of between 100 and 150 jobs.

He said there was growing interest in biorenewables as the sector expanded in Yorkshire.

The centre plans to create “a powerful regional hub” of innovation and collaboration involving academics and the private and public sector partners.

DEFRA said: “We want to support wealth generation in the region through provision of excellent facilities, networks and business support to high growth SMEs and specifically enhance the already strong stature of the region in biological, chemical and environmental sciences.”

Fera will obtain revenues from the private sector for the use of the space made available.

The spokesman added: “This is an excellent example of what can be done to achieve better value for money from the Government estate and at the same time it will boost economic prosperity, technological competitiveness and high quality employment opportunities in the region.”

The York Science and Enterprise Centre, is being created as part of a wider project with Science City York and the University of York, to stimulate research and development and improve regional competitiveness in the science and technology sectors.

In 2009, 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 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.

For further information about the York Science and Enterprise Centre visit the website www.defra.gov.uk/fera.

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