Landmark building gets go ahead
Site shown in yellow
The signature building at the entrance to Earlham Park should open by 2014, with the aim of stimulating the region’s economy and creating over 250 jobs.
Photo: University of East Anglia
A design competition will be run to make sure the Enterprise Centre stands out architecturally and has the lowest carbon footprint of any facility yet built.
It will become a hub for new start-up businesses, improving opportunities for UEA graduates and encouraging staff across Norwich Research Park (NRP) to start their own businesses. As reported yesterday, there’s a push to encourage innovation within the local economy. Within the building there will be an area dedicated to showcasing, monitoring and testing new sustainable products and bio-based materials from local companies.
The building will be funded by a £6m grant from the European Regional Development Fund: the largest single ERDF grant in the region in the 2007-2015 funding round. The UEA is also investing £6m in the project.
£2.5m comes from a £25m government investment in the NRP to provide the infrastructure to promote economic growth by commercialising the region’s world-class bioscience research.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Edward Acton said the project demonstrates the University’s commitment to enterprise, and it highlights the key role of the Norwich Research Park as a driver of the local economy.
“At a time when economic stimuli are much needed, UEA is delighted to be leading a project that will deliver business support to over 500 businesses and create over 250 jobs in the immediate area,” he said. “Another exciting feature will give students from across the NRP the opportunity to learn entrepreneurial skills that could enhance their career prospects, develop enterprise ideas and even launch their own companies.”
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