Major boost for science park
Norwich Research Park is set to benefit from £25M, announced in today’s budget. It’s part of a share of £70 million, raised by the Government’s bank levy, going towards top science facilities across the country.
Norwich Research Park (NRP) has been given a major funding boost in today’s budget. “Investing in science provides real returns to the regional and national economy,” said John Innes Centre Director, Professor Dale Sanders. “JIC alone contributes over £170 million pounds annually to the UK economy. This is an opportunity to build on the contribution the institutes on the Norwich Research Park collectively make to UK growth in the biotechnology area.”
The NRP wants to generate 5000 additional jobs at its Colney Lane base over the next 10 to 15 years. It sees itself as a key driver of the regional economy, recognised as a world leading centre for research and innovation. Commenting on today’s Budget announcement, the director of NRP, Alan Giles said: “The decision by government [...] to invest over £25M in the Norwich Research Park will help to transform the NRP Science and Enterprise Vision into a commercial and employment success.”
South Norwich MP, Simon Wright added: “This is great news for Norwich and Norfolk. Locally, we have one of Europe’s largest single sites for collaborative work in the fields of environmental, health and food sciences, and this investment will help grow the potential of the research park[...] It’s really encouraging to see the government recognising the contribution of science to economic growth, and investing in the internationally renowned institutions that we have in Norwich.”
