Daresbury Campus gets international boost
| Daresbury: Monday, 12th December 2011 The rapid growth of Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus (DSIC) has continued with the arrival of four major international enterprises in just three months. All four companies boast expertise and cutting-edge developments in such diverse fields as sound chip technology, virtual engineering, medical diagnostic devices and computer software coding systems. French firm Optis is an international leader in light simulation technology which allows designers in the automotive and aerospace industries to create and evaluate virtual versions of products at a fraction of the cost of using conventional methods. Optis now has its UK base at Daresbury and is collaborating on campus with the Virtual Engineering Centre. Advanced Cluster Systems, founded in the United States, develops innovative software coding for high performance and conventional computing technologies and took the decision to base its UK operations at the campus to expand existing commercial relationships. Both companies were attracted by Daresbury SIC's capabilities in high performance computing, due to be further boosted by an initial £7.5 investment announced by David Cameron in August of this year and a further investment announced by George Osborne in October. Swiss technology firm Soundchip develops innovative audio systems for smartphones, MP3 players and games consoles and has relocated its research and development department to Daresbury. Soundchip is working with ST Microelectronics, Europe's largest semiconductor company, to produce High Definition Personal Audio. Completing the quartet is Innokas Medical Oy of Finland, an international specialist contract development and manufacturing company in high-end medical technologies. The firm offers extensive experience in Molecular Imaging, Neurological Diagnostics and X-Ray systems. Daresbury SIC LLP is a private-public joint venture organisation, created in December 2010 between Langtree, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and Halton Borough Council. John Downes, chairman of Daresbury SIC and managing director at joint venture partner Langtree, said: 'We are delighted that four international companies of such significance, all acknowledged as leading innovators within their sectors, have been attracted to the campus. It is further recognition of the unique blend of support and expertise offered at Daresbury SIC. It's an environment in which technology businesses of all kinds can grow and flourish surrounded by similar like-minded enterprises and entrepreneurs.' The recently approved SCI-TECH enterprise zone will reinvest business rates to deliver new specialist office, laboratory and technical space, with the potential to create as many as 10,000 skilled jobs and leverage more than £150m in private sector investment. Science and technology businesses that start up or relocate into the SCI-TECH enterprise zone will qualify for a 100 per cent business rate discount for five years, up to a maximum of £275,000 over five years. |