The University of Southampton Science Park
Location 2 Venture Road Chilworth Southampton SO16 7NP
Contact Details For any additional information or letting enquiries , contact : Peter Birkett Tel : 02380 767420 Email : enquiries @ science-park . co . uk Website : www . science-park . co . uk
The Innovation Centre , complete with business lounge style café and modern conference facilities
Introduction The University of Southampton Science Park is situated on an attractive campus , in close proximity to the South ’ s major air , sea and road transport routes giving easy access across the UK and Europe . It is a well established , wholly-owned subsidiary of the University of Southampton and operates on an arm ’ s length commercial basis . Primarily formed to support early-stage technology businesses , Southampton Science Park now accommodates over 90 companies of all sizes , including world leaders such as Jacobs Engineering and Merck Chemicals . All the companies on Southampton Science Park are engaged in research , development , high-tech manufacturing , or services which directly support these sectors .
Southampton Science Park and the University of Southampton enjoy close links , giving tenant companies access to some of the UK ’ s leading scientific expertise and opportunities to benefit from graduate and postgraduate placements . About 15 % of the companies at the Park originate from the University , either as spin-outs or as the brainchild of individual academic staff . This includes companies like Perpetuum , Fibrecore and Ilika , two of which have been named in The top 100 Cleantech companies in Europe .
Southampton Science Park ’ s ethos centres around 6 key points .
Southampton Science Park ’ s Offerings
1 . Accommodation Southampton Science Park offers high quality accommodation with flexible terms , enabling companies to access appropriate facilities and expand their physical footprint as they grow . It is home to a range of sustainable buildings from custom designed headquarters to office / laboratory space in multi-occupancy buildings . The nine acre site at Benham Campus offers a variety of building plots to suit more mature incoming businesses . At the other end of the scale , the Innovation Centre supports start-ups and small businesses with flexible leasing arrangements ( including ‘ easy-in / easy-out ’ terms ) and access to shared facilities . The smallest companies can even enjoy a desk in the Incubation Centre while still benefiting from all that Southampton Science Park has to offer .
2 . Business Support Basing your company at Southampton Science Park gives you access to some of the best business support in the UK . The Park
Unique location : high-quality office accommodation set in beautiful surroundings
has a longstanding connection with SETsquared , ranked as the global number one university business incubator . SETsquared is a collaboration between the Universities of Bath , Bristol , Exeter , Southampton and Surrey which accelerates the growth and success of new technology businesses through spin-outs , licensing and incubation . Southampton Science Park has also received Regional Growth Funding to provide extra business coaching for some of its tenants . Furthermore , various business support companies based at the Park provide a range of services for small companies .
3 . Community Southampton Science Park is home to an entrepreneurial community , enabling individuals to develop their skills , learn from one another and contribute to a serendipitous exchange of business ideas . The Science Park runs a variety of events ranging from Chief Executives ’ Breakfasts to networking seminars and business briefings . The Science Park Social Committee also organises a range of events throughout the year , including a summer barbecue and regular quiz nights . The innovators of the future are also catered for , with an on-site Yellow Dot Nursery , which won the Royal Institute of British Architect ’ s Downland Prize for Best Educational Building .
Southampton Science Park ’ s Strategy
4 . Science In order to develop a supportive environment for early stage science and technology businesses , Southampton Science Park has transformed one building into a multi-occupancy laboratory complex . The Science Centre houses small chemistry , biology and general purpose laboratories , together with shared scientific facilities for tenants , while the first floor has been re-shaped to provide office accommodation for small companies . These facilities provide the perfect environment for start-up science and technology businesses to conduct commercially oriented R & D and bring new products and services to market .
Peter Birkett , Chief Executive of Southampton Science Park , explains , “ Science-based start-ups frequently need access to laboratory facilities which can require a big up-front investment . By providing an ‘ easy-in , easy-out ’ laboratory environment we are allowing companies to benefit from high quality facilities almost on a ‘ pay-as-you-go ’ basis , enabling them to avoid the high initial costs which are the bane of early stage businesses . The Science Centre puts quality science right at the heart of Southampton Science Park and accentuates our
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