Keele University Science & Business Park
Keele University Science and Innovation Park is a science and business development facility located on the campus of Keele University in North Staffordshire and was established in the mid-1980s. It is wholly owned by Keele University. The Science Park focuses to support the growth of innovative businesses, particularly those active in research and development within the West Midlands region by providing a location and a wide range of business support services. History The success of the Merseyside Innovation Centre established in 1980 to promote technology transfer between local academia and industry in Liverpool spawned a second wave of science parks in the UK. Riding on its crest, in late 1985, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council declared interest in creating a science park at Keele University. Opened in December 1986, the Stephenson building, located close to the main university campus was the first development unit and currently houses Cobra Biologics, a pharmaceutical company. The Darwin building followed suit in 1991. In 1999, Keele Park Developments was set-up as a joint venture with Pochin Development to create one of four Innovation Centres. Pochin sold its interest back to Keele in 2013. Keele University Science & Innovation Park is home to over 40 companies and employs over 600 staff. Occupancy of the Science Park remains at circa 95% of available space (including some university occupancy in IC1 and IC2). In May 2015, a Science Park review recommended the re-branding of the park with a requirement for tenants to be active in core academic activities, further development of the Nova Centre as an incubation for start-up companies and a Directorate of Engagement and Partnerships to lead future initiatives. All employees of the Science Park can benefit from local campus amenities (bank, pharmacy, cafés) including the Sports Centre. There is also a Day Nursery available for 128 children aged 3 months to 5 years on campus. St John’s CE Primary School provides further facilities in Keele village. Phase 1 development Phase 1 of expansion witnessed the construction of two new 'Innovation Centres', facilities for business enterprises. Innovation Centre 1 The first building simply called 'Innovation Centre' and labelled on the side as just IC was opened in 1999 by Her Majesty The Queen. With over 24,500 square feet, it is the home of companies such as Bma and Siemens Wind Power R&D. Innovation Centre 2 IC2 was opened shortly after in 2002. Following a review of the Science Park Strategy Group in 2015, it was agreed that IC2 would serve as the primary building for consolidation of University occupation of science park buildings over the next 5 years. Phase 2 development Phase 2 was closely associated with the newly created Keele University School of Medicine with the aim to attract biotechnology companies, especially given the proximity to academic expertise and the university's specialist resources. For example, Alliance Medical Radiopharmacy, a subsidiary of Alliance Medical, produces radio-pharmaceuticals and tracers for use in positron emission tomography–computed tomography (or better known as PET-CT). The company, founded in Dublin in 2001