Sector News
Electric vehicle battery Gigafactory in West Midlands gets green light
The West Midlands Gigafactory joint venture has taken the next step in its journey to deliver a Gigafactory in the West Midlands with planning committees supporting the outline planning application for its site in Coventry and Warwickshire. Warwick District Council...
Manufacturers see positive outlook for 2022 – Make UK/PwC survey
Optimism tempered by fight for talent and escalating input costs Three quarters of companies expect conditions in manufacturing to improveTwo thirds of companies see the UK as a competitive location for manufacturing - but as many say leaving the EU has hampered their...
New Chief Executive appointed at UKSPA
James Chaffer has been appointed as Chief Executive of the United Kingdom Science Park Association (UKSPA). James will join UKSPA on 4 January 2022 following the retirement of Jim Duvall who leaves after fourteen years at the Association. James is currently...
AstraZeneca opens new £1 billion research centre within the Cambridge Biomedical Campus
AstraZeneca has officially opened The Discovery Centre (DISC) in Cambridge – a state-of-the-art research and development facility designed to the world’s highest environmental standards and accommodating over 2,200 research scientists. The new £1bn facility will...
WISE launches Covid Unsung Heroes Awards
WISE, the campaign for diversity, inclusion and change in STEM, has launched its Covid Unsung Heroes Awards to celebrate the women working in STEM that have changed lives, communities and the economy for the better during the pandemic. Kay Hussain, WISE’s Chief...
Budget will not meet ambitions of Innovation Strategy
Authors: Patrick Bonnett, Steve Yianni and Jane Gate Slowing investment will make science superpower status less likely, say Patrick Bonnett and colleagues The budget was a chance to begin implementing the government’s Innovation Strategy. Launching the strategy...
Planners back 170,000 sq ft development at St John’s Innovation Park
Cambridge planners have backed a massive expansion at St John’s Innovation Park. St John’s College and development manager Turnstone Estates have been given the go-ahead for two additional office and R & D buildings and a new transport hub to be located in the...
A summary of policies from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy that are included in the government’s Spending Review.
The government has published the Spending Review, delivering on key commitments to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, support the jobs and industries of the future and invest in a high-wage, high-skill economy. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial...
Budget is business friendly, but won’t deliver high investment, high productivity economy- Tony Danker, CBI Director-General
Tony Danker, CBI Director-General, said: “Today, the Chancellor has shown a genuine willingness to listen to business with measures that will get firms innovating and help the economy to grow. It takes several positive steps forward, but isn’t bold enough to deliver...
Mayor of West Yorkshire officially launches the West Yorkshire Innovation Network to drive up innovation across the region
Pictured: Mandy Ridyard (Produmax), Tracy Brabin, Sir Roger Marsh and Jeremy Ridyard (Produmax). The West Yorkshire Innovation Network gains momentum with support from the Mayor of West Yorkshire and announcement of new Chair The Mayor of West Yorkshire has marked the...
We are Pioneer Group announce new life sciences incubation and acceleration facility to open at The Campus, Cherrywood
A new 30,000 sq ft life sciences incubation and acceleration facility which will provide specialised lab, office and collaboration space for over one hundred life science and health technology professionals, entrepreneurs, and researchers has been announced for The...
Creating the future by making the best use of what we’ve got. UKSPA’s Interim Chair Patrick Bonnett reflects on the Government’s Innovation Strategy.
The end of July saw the publication of the new Innovation Strategy by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The strategy was launched by Kwasi Kwarteng, the BEIS Secretary of State at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre near Sheffield....
Kadans Science Partner expands Cambridge presence with acquisition of Merlin Place
Kadans Science Partner has added to its Pan-European portfolio after acquiring Merlin Place in Cambridge from a private investor who was represented by Bidwells. This acquisition continues Kadans’ growth in Cambridge following its acquisition of B900 at the Babraham...
Bold new strategy to fuel UK’s world-class space sector
New plans to strengthen the UK as a world class space nation by firing up its multibillion-pound space industry have been set out in a National Space Strategy launched at the Harwell Campus. From connecting people with their friends and family and monitoring climate...
New ten-year plan to make the UK a global AI superpower
The UK has launched its first National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy to help it strengthen its position as a global science superpower and seize the potential of modern technology to improve people’s lives and solve global challenges such as climate...