University of Cambridge West Cambridge Site Location Williams Gate Building, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0FD Contact Details Contact: Robert Simpson Tel: 01223 763666 Email: robert.simpson@admin.cam.ac.uk Website: www.cam.ac.uk/building History and Objectives The University of Cambridge owns land zoned for commercial research at its mixed-use West Cambridge site. The future of this 66-hectare site was transformed in 1999 when total new development of over 180,000 square metres of academic, research institute, residential sports and other facilities, including 41,000 square metres of new commercial research accommodation was approved. The commercial research land is spread around the site. This reflects the University’s view that development at West Cambridge ought to be complementary to the University’s core intentions in spreading westward. These are: to allow the University the space needed to compete with other leading international universities, to act as a pioneering centre for research collaboration with local and international industry expansion, and to position Cambridge as one of the top technical players on the world stage in addition to boosting the British economy. Companies Already at the Site The site has long been home to the renowned Cavendish Laboratories, the Veterinary School and the Whittle Laboratory. Also long established at West Cambridge are British Antarctic Survey, Schlumberger Cambridge Research, Aveva Group plc and the Hitachi Cambridge Laboratory. Microsoft Research established its European HQ here in 2001, close to the University’s Computer Laboratory, which is housed in the adjacent William Gates Building. Academic development is focused on the physical sciences and technology. More recent completions have been the Nanoscience Centre and Electrical Engineering Division of the Department of Engineering, incorporating the Centre for Advanced Photonics and Electronics, which have resulted in a significant expansion of research collaboration. The Centre for the Physics of Medicine was completed in 2008, and the Alan Reece Building for the Institute for Manufacturing has recently been completed. Future A development resulting from a partnership between the University and Turnstone Estates Ltd is on site and will be completed by December 2009. The complex comprises the Hauser Forum to house Cambridge Enterprise Ltd, the route for commercialising the University’s science, together with ideas space for University start ups, a seminar centre and a café to form a site-wide social hub. This development has been made possible through a generous donation from the Hauser-Raspe Foundation. Adjacent commercial research and development accommodation for let is being developed by Turnstone Estates Ltd and has already created interest from potential tenants. The University now developing proposals on how best to exploit the remaining 28,000 square metres of new commercial R&D space to best capture the direction of University research and develop the potential for collaboration with a wide range of organisations.