Strathclyde Uni's TIC gets £6.7m tick
Published by Anne Marie Hughes on Wed 20 Jun 12 @ 10:45
The University of Strathclyde’s Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC).
The development of the University of Strathclyde's Technology & Innovation Centre (TIC) took another major step forward this week, as it secured its final £6.7m of funding and appointed its lead construction contractor.
The cash injection from ERDF will complete the funding for what will become a major centre for research and innovation in the city, which is to be built by the Glasgow-based Scottish office of Lend Lease.
Work starts next month to develop the world leading centre for the development of renewable energy technologies and enabling technologies, including pharmaceutical manufacturing, advanced engineering and health technologies.
Capital funding of £89m has already been secured from a range of partners, including Scottish Enterprise & Scottish Funding Council, with the £6.7m ERDF contribution being the final piece in the jigsaw, enabling the project to proceed.
The university, alongside industry partners, aims to more than double the scale of research investment from £70m to more than £150m over the next 5 years and create up to 500 new, high value research, technology and engineering jobs.
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stuart Patrick said: "This is a significant announcement and one which really boosts the world class renewable energy credentials of Glasgow as well as creating a large number of high value jobs."
The TIC will bring together academics, researchers and project managers from the University and its leading industrial partners to find solutions to challenges in sectors central to economic regeneration in Scotland and further afield, including power and energy, health and advanced engineering.
It will be the first of its kind in Europe and will become the cornerstone of the International Technology and Renewable Energy Zone (ITREZ) - Scotland's hub for global green energy developments.
Dr Steve Graham, Executive Director of the Technology and Innovation Centre at the University of Strathclyde, said: "The Technology and Innovation Centre is designed to transform the way businesses and industry work together to find solutions to global challenges, and bring economic advantage to Scotland.
"I am delighted work will now begin to make the Centre's building a reality. We look forward to formally opening the doors of this inspiring and welcoming building in 2014."
The triangular, nine-storey, steel-framed building will be constructed on a 25,900m2 brownfield city centre site adjacent to the University over an 87-week period. It includes open plan offices, three lecture theatres and specialist laboratory space.
Gordon Anderson, Lend Lease's Executive General Manager said "The Technology and Innovation Centre will be a global centre of research excellence and winning the contract is a great result for Lend Lease. We are particularly excited about working with the University of Strathclyde to bring economic, sustainable benefit to the local community through the involvement of small businesses, social enterprise groups and employment of new entrants to construction."
"Lend Lease is currently building some of Scotland's biggest and most technically challenging construction projects, including The Hydro in Glasgow - a 12,000-seater venue which will bring the biggest acts in the world to the city. This appointment at the University of Strathclyde means we are now also playing a role in securing Scotland's academic legacy."
