Manchester, England
Manchester Science Park Limited (msp) started operations in 1984 with Enterprise House, the Park's first "incubator" premises. Today, msp manages buildings on three sites, which accommodate around 100 companies. It is located next to the largest academic and clinical campus in Europe, comprising The University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester Business School and the Central Manchester Healthcare Trust[1].
msp is internationally recognised as a world-class science and technology community and a groundbreaking centre of excellence. Its reputation as one of the most successful and fastest growing locations of its kind was recognized recently, at the annual UK Science Park Association (UKSPA) conference in Edinburgh, where msp was chosen as the outstanding UKSPA member park for 2007.
Only five minutes' drive from Manchester city centre, msp is also just 15 kilometers from Manchester's international airport. Motorway links are good, and the University of Manchester's bio-incubator and the new Core Technology Facility (a specialised environment for growing biotech businesses) are within walking distance.
msp works to enhance the economic and technological wealth of Manchester, by providing accommodation and business support services for companies in high technology sectors. Tenants are selected on their potential for growth and innovation, not just their proven track record. Start-up companies benefit from both the credibility of the Manchester Science Park 'brand' and flexible tenancy agreements that allow companies to expand within the msp property portfolio without financial penalties.
msp is a partnership between the City of Manchester, its universities and the private sector. The company facilitates the transfer of knowledge between the city's universities and msp tenants: a business model that sets it apart from traditional business parks.
[1] The Trust manages the 3 hospitals in Central Manchester and is also a world-renowned centre of excellence for healthcare research: www.cmht.nwest.nhs.uk
Other science parks in the North West region are:
- Daresbury Science & Innovation Campus
- Liverpool Science Park
- The Heath Business & Technical Park
- Westlakes Science & Technology Park
www.westlakessciencepark.co.uk
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
England's Northwest is a £106 billion economy, over a quarter of which is directly provided by science and technology businesses. It has strong, ambitious and vibrant universities and Research Institutes. The region is home to a number of major world-class industrial laboratories, with total business R&D investment in excess of all other regions outside the South East.
The Northwest region has a Science Strategy for 2007 - 2010 which brings together businesses, universities and other science partners in the region. The aim is to create a dynamic, sustainable international economy which competes on the basis of knowledge, advanced technology and an excellent quality of life for all.
Across the public and private sectors, the Northwest is internationally strong in the following sectors:
- Pharmaceutical
- Medical
- Healthcare
- Chemicals
- Materials
- ICT
- Aerospace
- Nuclear Technology.
INCUBATOR FACILITIES IN THE REGION
Business Incubator in Great Manchester:
- Bolton Business Ventures Ltd
- Carrington Business Park Ltd
- Manchester Business School Incubator
- Technology House Business Incubation Uni
- University of Manchester Intellectual Property Unit (UMIP)
- University of Manchester Incubator Company (UMIC)
- Venture Space
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Greater Manchester is well served with educational and training establishments at all levels. There are 4 world class Universities within Greater Manchester: University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, Salford University and University of Bolton.
SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS START-UPs
The North West Development Agency (NWDA) manages and funds a number of business finance solutions designed to help businesses in the region to start up and grow. These include grant schemes where money is given to a new or existing business for a specific project, as well as a number of loans and investment schemes where the money is repayable when the company has income, profits or shares are sold.
Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with Manchester Solutions offers professional advice and high quality, value-for-money services, meeting a wide range of start-ups needs.
Manchester's Investment Agency (MIDAS) also offers an extensive - and free - package of advice and assistance for companies that want to do business in Greater Manchester. www.investinmanchester.com
MOST IMPORTANT SERVICES
- Global Growth Network Essential
msp has developed a range of complimentary value added services intended to support tenant companies in their business growth and development.
These services are:
- Business and Marketing Support
msp organises and hosts a number of networking activities which provide opportunities for tenants to get to know each other, share experiences and learn from each other, and learn form experts in the business field.
The range of activities includes:
- Monthly seminar programmes which cover topics from financial and legal issues to PR and overseas trading;
- Breakfast meetings which help to share useful contacts and help each other generate business;
- Landlady's lunch which give chance to meet and talk with the CEO, Jane Davies;
- PR services to help the tenants to communicate their success stories across the region.
msp has an extensive range of contacts at local, regional and national level which it can use to help support tenants in their business development. Whatever the tenant's stage of development, msp can put them in touch with people, organisations, programmes, initiatives, funding sources, etc. that can provide assistance.
Access to University Resources and Expertise:
Tenant companies benefit from msp's strong links with the City's universities.
The Park can provide information and assistance regarding:
- Student placements and assignments (technical, scientific & business projects);
- Graduate recruitment;
- Staff professional development;
- Collaborative research;
- Access to leading-edge new technologies;
- Access to incubation support;
- Access to technical and scientific facilities.
SOFT LANDING SERVICES
msp is home to the Manchester International Innovation Centre (MIIC), which helps overseas companies to get their UK businesses off the ground. The MIIC offers quality accommodation, academic links, and a whole range of business support to help companies into new markets.
LINKS TO MOST IMPORTANT WEBSITE OF THE REGION
www.gmchamber.co.uk
www.manchester.gov.uk