Designs for world-class research hub go on display
Plans for a world-class research and innovation development that will create jobs and attract millions of pounds of inward investment to Glasgow are to go on display at an exhibition next Tuesday (31 May 2011).
Residents and business owners are invited to attend the public consultation evening, which will include the latest designs for the University of Strathclyde’s £89 million Technology and Innovation Centre and Scottish Enterprise’s neighbouring Industry Engagement Building on George Street.
The Technology and Innovation Centre at Strathclyde (TIC) will bring together 850 academics, researchers and project managers from the University and its industrial partners to find solutions to challenges which are central to economic regeneration.
It will sit next to Scottish Enterprise’s Industry Engagement Building, enabling innovative companies to co-locate with TIC and access the University’s leading research expertise. Both buildings are part of Scotland’s new International Technology and Renewable Energy Zone (ITREZ).
Dr Steve Graham, Executive Director of TIC, said: “The Technology and Innovation Centre is a transformational project for the city and for Scotland. It will bring together the best minds from academia and industry to address challenges that affect every area of society, including power and energy, advanced science and manufacturing.
“TIC will be based in an inspirational new building that will bring together research specialisms currently thriving within the University, and will embrace industry, from large multinational companies to small and medium size enterprises. It will be developed with low carbon principles to the fore, and its welcoming and transparent design will help it become a gateway between the Merchant City and City Centre.
“We are very much looking forward to meeting members of the community to share the initial plans with them and listen to their views.”
Neil Francis, Sector Delivery Director, Scottish Enterprise, said: “The International Technology and Renewable Energy Zone is key to our ambitions to position Glasgow and Scotland at the heart of global green energy developments.
“Glasgow has already attracted a number of well-established companies in the offshore wind sector, and our investment in the TIC and our Industry Engagement Building will help drive the co-location of industry and academia and reinforce the city’s reputation as the location for the expanding renewables industry."
At £89 million, TIC is the University’s single-biggest investment in research capacity and has attracted financial backing from Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Funding Council. Its founding partners are SSE, ScottishPower and the Weir Group.
TIC’s landmark, 22,000 square metres building – the equivalent floor space of around three football pitches – will house specialist, shared and flexible laboratory facilities, enabling world-class researchers respond to challenges in partnership with industry, government agencies and other organisations.
The Industry Engagement Building is expected to have a floor area in the region of 4,800 square metres with space for around 500 occupants over five storeys. Like TIC, the Industry Engagement Building will be highly sustainable.
The drop-in consultation event will run between 6pm and 9pm on Tuesday 31 May in the McCance Building, University of Strathclyde, 16 Richmond St, Glasgow. For more information , visit www.strath.ac.uk/tic and www.scottish-enterprise.com/itrez
1. Capital funding to build the Technology and Innovation Centre has been secured for £89m and the building is scheduled to have its official opening in 2014. The Scottish Funding Council is contributing £15 million, Scottish Enterprise is contributing up to £11 million as part of the ITREZ project and the University is contributing £57m funding through its European Investment Bank loan facility. An ERDF capital application (£6.7m) has been submitted to the European Commission under the low carbon/sustainability programme for the remaining balance of capital.
2. An academic directorate has been formed to help drive and deliver the research, and ensure it is informed by Strathclyde’s international research links. TIC will focus on six research themes: Power & Energy; Sensors & Photonics; Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering; Advanced Science & Technology; Pharma, Nano-Science and Molecular Nanometrology; and Business & Education. In order to address major research challenges of the 21st Century, multidisciplinary teams are being brought together to combine the University’s strengths in engineering, science, business and the social sciences.
3. Since its foundation in 1796, the University’s vision as a ‘place of useful learning’ has led the way in connecting new ideas to the solution of problems facing society, and producing high quality graduates ready for leadership and the professions. Today, the University is recognised as one of the UK’s leading international technological universities, and prides itself on partnership with the public and private sectors. Its bold vision is to transform research, education and knowledge exchange to deliver useful learning for the technological age. More at www.strath.ac.uk
4. The International Technology and Renewable Energy Zone (ITREZ) is positioning Glasgow as an internationally recognised location for R&D, design and engineering of renewables and a range of associated enabling technologies. Industry and academia are creating a close-knit business and research community in Glasgow with SSE and Iberdrola already based in the city. Central to ITREZ will be the University of Strathclyde’s Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC) and Scottish Enterprise’s Industry Engagement Building. www.scottish-enterprise/itrez
5. The University, Scottish Enterprise and partners are members of Sustainable Glasgow, a city-wide partnership to make Glasgow one of the most liveable and sustainable cities in Europe. It brings together partners from the public and private sectors and academia to work with citizens, communities and businesses. The city is committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 30 per cent within 10 years and building a greener and more sustainable future for Glaswegians. The unparalleled strategic approach taken by Glasgow will help to create jobs and boost the economy, tackle social issues including fuel poverty and regenerate the city. For more information visit http://www.sustainableglasgow.org.uk/