Work starts on York's exciting new business space on University's campus expansion
Posted on 1 March 2010
The exciting new business space - known as The Catalyst - is part of a major project, supported by the European Regional Development Fund and managed by Science City York, to stimulate the regional economy through a range of new developments being undertaken by the University and the Food and Environment Research Agency at Sand Hutton.Together with embedded space for businesses in the iconic Sir Ron Cooke Hub and academic department buildings on the campus expansion at Heslington East, The Catalyst will help to keep York at the forefront of work to promote economic development around world leading universities.
Science City York’s major project application to the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programme in Yorkshire and Humber secured £19.7 million to develop new infrastructure to stimulate R&D and improve regional competitiveness in the science and technology sectors. More than £15 million of this is being allocated to help fund the expansion of facilities on the University’s campus expansion including The Catalyst, a further circa 750 square metres of knowledge exchange accommodation in the Sir Ron Cooke Hub and the new Higher York Creative Technology Centre.
The University of York is proud to be building on its strong track record of support for businesses and the knowledge economy
Dr Chris Henshall
The Catalyst is designed to support the growth and development of early stage companies in the creative, IT, digital and media sectors. It will give new businesses the opportunity to access the facilities and the teaching and research expertise of the University’s academic departments, including Computer Science, Law and Management and the new Department of Theatre, Film and Television.
York Science Park Ltd. will lease and manage the building and use its long track record of successful incubation on the Science Park to facilitate the close integration and knowledge exchange between the commercial and academic environments. The Catalyst will provide rewarding networking and collaboration opportunities for its occupants, plus a range of specialist business support services dedicated to assist early stage businesses.
Due for completion in the Autumn, The Catalyst will feature 2,755 square metres of flexible, modern, fully serviced and managed office space, with a range of all inclusive, short term rental options on spaces from just 15 to 126 square metres. There will be a range of meeting spaces available for both internal and external organisations to use, and the building is set to achieve a BREEAM rating, which measures a building's environmental performance, of ‘very good’.
The Catalyst will expand the already extensive range of facilities on offer and further enhance York Science Park’s reputation as a leading location for science and technology based businesses.
Dr Chris Henshall, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for External Relations at the University of York said: “The University of York is proud to be building on its strong track record of support for businesses and the knowledge economy through the innovative facilities being developed in the first phase of the Heslington East Campus expansion.”
Tracey Smith, General Manager of York Science Park, said: “The Catalyst will provide the perfect space for early stage companies in the creative, IT, digital and media sectors to innovate and grow. Its unique location will enable new businesses in these sectors to draw on the wealth of knowledge and expertise available in the University, and give them a real head start on their road to commercial success.”
Andy Gurnell, Science City York, said: “Accelerated growth of the creative and digital industries is a key element in promoting York’s economic success. Securing European funding has enabled the development of an innovative infrastructure initiative which will cement York’s position as a leading centre for knowledge exchange and as a city of science. We’re delighted to be centrally involved in this important new opportunity for business.”
The main contractor for The Catalyst is BAM Construction.
For more information and to find out how to rent space in The Catalyst visit http://www.yorksciencepark.co.uk or call 01904 435100.
Notes to editors:
- The 21 acre York Science Park facilitates technology transfer and business development by providing knowledge-based enterprises with purpose-built facilities as well as direct links to the world-class University of York. The Park supports the development of business in various stages from start-up to growth stage companies and large corporations. All have the common thread in their pursuit of innovation with a close rapport and exchange of expertise with the University. It has purpose built incubation space with around 112 000 sq ft of specialist facilities including the Innovation, Bio and IT Centres and Enterprise House, making York the first UK Science Park to offer dedicated IT, bio and knowledge based incubation space on a single site.
- Regional ERDF Programme
The regional ERDF Programme, approved in December 2007 was launched in February 2008.
The programme is managed by Yorkshire Forward on behalf of a regional partnership including the National Government, European Commission and Regional bodies.
The programme provides €583 million from the European Regional Development Fund to invest in the region’s economic development by 2013 with €271m for South Yorkshire and €312m for the rest of the region. South Yorkshire has extra resources to help with its transition from its earlier Objective 1 status.
Further information about the ERDF Programme in Yorkshire and The Humber is available at www.yorkshire-forward.com/erdf.
- European Regional Development Fund
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) was set up in 1975 to stimulate economic development in less prosperous regions of the European Union (EU) and to act as a significant instrument with which the EU can support its Cohesion Policy.
As EU membership has grown, ERDF has developed into a major instrument for helping to redress regional imbalances. The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) manages ERDF in England.
Between 2007 and 2013, England benefits from an investment of €3.2 billion (approx £2.5 bn) of ERDF. It is delivered by regional programmes in each English region, managed by the Regional Development Agency. England also receives €177 million ERDF for two national cross-border co-operation programmes with France, Flanders and the Netherlands and another €193.8 million is available to the United Kingdom for participating in three trans-national co-operation programmes across the North West Europe, North Sea and Atlantic areas.
ERDF is directed at projects offering substantial benefits which meet the needs of an area and would not take place without a grant. It is used to provide help towards the project costs with grants set at a minimum level required to allow the project to go ahead. As a general rule, however, the EU contributes no more than 50% of the eligible cost with the rest of the funding, known as ‘match funding’ coming from other public sources.
Further information about the European Union’s support for regional policy, including ERDF, is available at www.ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.htm.
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