Latest News
16/07/10: Science Park future secure.
The funding for Phase one of the Exeter Science Park is secure and the project can go ahead as planned.
Although funding for improvements to Junction 29 of the M5 is under review by the government, this does not prevent phase one from going ahead.
The Science Park site was purchased by the South West RDA in 2008 at a total cost of £8.8million. Devon County Council has received a grant of £8.5m from the South West RDA to develop the infrastructure of the Science Park e.g. roads and utilities on the park site itself. None of this money is at risk.
In May 2010, East Devon District Council, Exeter City Council, Devon County Council, the Met Office and the University of Exeter formally incorporated the Exeter Science Park Company under the Chairmanship of Professor Sir William Wakeham.
The Science Park Company is fully committed to creating a science based community enjoying strong connections to the Met Office, the University and Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry. The partners have all committed a further £3m investment. None of this investment is at risk. The company will provide the initial capital investment for the first science based buildings on the site.
Representatives from the Science Park Company expressed the following:
Alan Douglas, representing the Met Office, as Chair of the Science Park Company Infrastructure Committee, said: ‘We have known about the review of Junction 29 for some time and the most recent advice that has been given is that the development of the infrastructure will be proceeding as expected.’
Richard Ball, Head of Economy and Tourism at the City Council said: ‘We were bemused to see the article in yesterday’s Echo. We are actively developing the science Park and are confident that work will begin on site soon. We are about to start the search for a joint venture partner to take the project forward once phase 1 is underway.’
Sean Fielding, Director of Research and Knowledge Transfer at the University of Exeter, said: ‘We are recruiting over 100 new scientists and the Science Park is a key part of the University’s major plans for science investment.’
21/06/10: Exeter Science Park Company invites suitably experienced organisations to tender for the corporate design for Exeter Science Park.
The brief is to create a logo and corporate design for the Exeter Science Park Company and a marketing manual of corporate design elements. The deadline for submissions is Monday 5th July, 17:00.
Further details can be found on the corporate design brief (
22kb).
16/03/10: Exeter Science Park roads approved
Work on improving roads around the proposed Exeter Science Park development can begin after a planning agreement was reached.
Devon County Council has won the go ahead to carry on with £18m of infrastructure works near junction 29 of the M5.
This includes a number of improvements at the junction, including a new traffic signal junction with the A30, additional lanes on the north and southbound slip roads, and bus lanes on the A30 to the motorway junction.
Another £5.5m is being invested by the county council on major new transport links between Exeter and a number of big developments to the east of the city, which includes a highway network for the Science Park and a pedestrian and cycle bridge over the M5 to connect to the Exeter cycle network.
19/02/10: Recruitment for a Business Development Manager
Please note that the deadline for applications has now passed.
We are looking for an exceptional Business Development Manager to spearhead professional marketing and business development for the Exeter Science Park Company. The ideal candidate will be qualified to at least degree level in a science based discipline and have experience of working with early stage technology or knowledge-based businesses. A proven track record of leading in marketing and business development along with income generation is required.
For further information and details of how to apply for this position please download the vacancy advert ( 22kb).
09/02/10: Exeter hosts senior government figures
The University played host to visits from five senior government figures on Friday 5 February.
The visits were part of the Cabinet's trip to Exeter.
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs David Miliband gave a lecture to students and staff at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies. Minister for Communities and Local Government John Denham had a tour of the Innovation Centre and joined a round table discussion on the Science Park with representatives from Devon County Council, East Devon District Council, the University and the South West Regional Development Agency (pictured below left to right, Ian Thompson SWRDA; Sean Fielding, University of Exeter; Karime Hassan, East Devon District Council; Sir Harry Studholme, Chair of the SW RDA, Robin Jackson, Innovation Centre; Ian Piper SWRDA; and Ian Harrison, Devon County Council).
