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Cardiff University has made a  £300m investment in a new Innovation Campus, promoting Cardiff University’s role as a centre of innovation, and will be an important element in the city-region’s landscape.

In the latest UK research assessment exercise (REF2014) the University was ranked in the top five for the quality of its research and second in the UK for the impact of its research.

An ambitious development plan for a new campus on the Maindy Road site will transform an area of Cardiff from a disused, former industrial space into a range of state-of-the-art facilities. The first phase has brought together experts researching key medical conditions such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease and stem cell cancer research for the first time in a purpose-built building. A new Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) is due to open in Summer 2016. It will become one of Europe’s flagship facilities in brain research imaging.

The current development will see two new 12,000m2 buildings. The first building, Innovation Central, will be home to the world’s first social science research park (SPARK) which co-locates applied social science researchers with external partners to work on societal grand challenges in innovative and collaborative ways. The building will also house an Innovation Centre that will provide serviced office, laboratory and shared workspaces for knowledge-based, innovation-led organisations, delivered on a commercial basis (c.2,900m2 lettable space) with the value proposition of:

• High quality modern offices / laboratory space with access to amenities including catering and social facilities   

• Co-location with Cardiff University – proximity to researchers and other collaborators at a prestigious address

• Access at competitive rates to University services and facilities such as Central Biotechnology Services and the additive manufacturing labs

The second building, Translational Research Facility, located next to Innovation Central will be home to two world-leading institutes providing cutting-edge facilities that help researchers and industry work together. The first, Cardiff Catalysis Institute is already established as one of the world’s top five catalysis research centres, and the leading UK facility in this area, whilst the Institute for Compound Semiconductors, a new partnership with global semiconductor firm IQE will position Cardiff as the UK and European leader in compound semi-conductors.

Location

The innovation campus is located in close proximity to the City Centre. It has good road and rail links with easy access to the M4. The nearest train station, Cathays is a 10-minute walk. Cardiff Central train station is approximately 1.5 miles and a 2-hour direct train to London Paddington.

Enterprise and Innovation at Cardiff

We have a thriving innovation culture and excel in connecting industry, business, and government with our academics, nurturing student entrepreneurship and championing grass-roots business development.

We are very keen for Innovation Centre tenants to connect with the expertise and resources available in the University, whether that is through our broad ranging academic expertise, access to our scientific equipment and testing facilities, access to commercial development and on-site professional high-street advice or through connecting with our students for placements and Knowledge Transfer Partnership opportunities.