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New research institute brings huge business opportunities for
Cornwall
20 July 2010
A £30m investment to put Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly at the
forefront of environmental and climate change technologies was
announced today by the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency)
and the University of Exeter.
The investment – which includes almost £23 million from the ERDF
(European Regional Development Fund) Convergence programme - will
enable the University of Exeter to build a world-leading
Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) at the Combined
Universities In Cornwall Tremough Campus, Penryn – bringing at
least 800 jobs in its wake.
ESI will concentrate on two core areas: making good commercial
use of the environmental and sustainability knowledge in Cornwall
and the Isles of Scilly, and creating a world-class research and
teaching institution at Tremough to increase that knowledge.
The investment’s aim is to grow the economy of Cornwall and the
Isles of Scilly, creating jobs and wealth by building on existing
assets; creating a sustainable cluster of high-value businesses,
people, knowledge, investment and research.
Investment for the new project comes from the ERDF Convergence
Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, the South West RDA
and the University.
Work is due to start in February to create one of the most
environmentally-friendly buildings in the UK to house the
Institute. It will be ready for occupation in summer 2012.
The ESI will generate world-class research into the causes of
environmental change and how to manage its effects. More than 100
top quality academic staff will be recruited to work across three
selected themes: clean technologies, natural environment, and
socio-economic research.
There is already potential for commercial applications from the
base of knowledge being developed in these areas of research in
Cornwall and Exeter and one of the unique features of the institute
will be the fact that researchers across different disciplines will
work together.
To ensure that Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly fully exploit
the business opportunities from the knowledge generated by ESI, a
carefully-designed business support service will be integral to the
ESI. It is envisaged that this, combined with investments in
Innovation Centres at Pool and Tremough, will see the creation of a
thriving cluster of businesses leading the way in the application
of these increasingly important technologies and providing
high-value jobs.
Professor Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor of the University of
Exeter, said: “This is great news for Cornwall, especially at a
time of national cutbacks in public spending. The ESI will build on
the University’s research strengths in climate change and
environmental science and add critical mass to the Tremough Campus,
which we share with University College Falmouth. The Campus has
provided a massive economic boost to Cornwall which will continue
to develop now we have funding confirmed for the ESI. It is a
pioneering development in linking academia so closely with business
and our staff have been actively helping Cornish businesses to
succeed.”
Suzanne Bond, the South West RDA’s Executive Director of People
and Skills, said: “This is a major investment in Cornwall’s economy
which delivers a step-change in the county’s environmental science
and engineering capacity. It builds on Cornwall’s expertise and
heritage and, combined with a strong business focus, will deliver
at least 800 high-value jobs in energy and clean technologies and
related industries. It will also leave a lasting legacy by driving
long-term growth in the peninsula.”
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office
for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “It is a time of
seismic public sector cuts and radical structural reorganisation,
we continue our journey to achieve long term transformation of the
Cornish economy. Low Carbon economy is easy to shout but difficult
to achieve. At the heart of this lies the principle of environment
as an economic driver. At the heart of the ESI is the principle
that knowledge is the driver of successful, sustainable
businesses.”
The University of Exeter now has about 1,600 students based at
Tremough and this is expected to rise to 2,150 by 2015. Nearly a
third come from the South West. The developing role of the
University of Exeter in Cornwall has, crucially, introduced a major
science research base in addition to arts, humanities and social
sciences.
Total ongoing investment in new facilities across all of the
University of Exeter’s campuses now exceeds £300 million.
ENDS
Notes to editors
The South West RDA works for and promotes a modern, stronger and
more resilient economy across South West England. Our work involves
creating better jobs, successful businesses, more prosperous
cities, towns and villages within an economy that uses less carbon
and will still be thriving in 20, 50 and 100 years time.
For further information, or to arrange interviews, contact Billy
McKenna at the South West RDA on 01392 229567.