Mayor Joins Launch of Research Facility Backed By £17.5 Million Combined Authority Funding

Tees Valley Mayor | Published on: 14th February 2018

Mayor Ben Houchen has joined Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry to break ground on a new £22.3million research, teaching and training facility in Tees Valley.

Construction was today formally launched on the National Horizons Centre, which will drive growth in the bioscience industries, following a £17.5million investment from the Combined Authority’s devolved funding.

The facility, being built by Teesside University at Central Park in Darlington, will concentrate on developing the technical, innovation and management skills and knowledge needed for the sector to continue to grow and generate jobs and wealth in Tees Valley and the UK.

Mr Berry and Mayor Houchen were joined by Teesside University Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Professor Paul Croney to mark the start of the build programme, due to be completed in spring 2019.

Part-funded from the European Regional Development Fund, the National Horizons Centre is being established to support the bioscience sector, which includes biologics, biomedical sciences, industrial biotechnology and digital.  It will play a key part in driving STEM skills and economic growth in the Tees Valley, through industry-focused education and training and collaborative research and innovation.

The centre will house academics and business development staff from Teesside University, working in partnership with regional, national and international industry partners, including the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) and Fujifilm Diosynth, to provide specialist education and training for the current and future workforce, and to promote industry-focused innovation and research.

Together with CPI’s adjacent National Biologics Manufacturing Centre and the University’s Centre for Professional and Executive Development (CPED), the centre will be at the heart of a cluster of excellence on Darlington’s Central Park.

Minister for the Northern Powerhouse Jake Berry said: “I was delighted to be here celebrating the start of the build of the National Horizons Centre today, which has received £17.5m government investment.

“This is the Northern Powerhouse in action because this Centre will not only be of regional importance but will be a nationally significant asset too.

“It will train our young people to become the scientists of the future and continue to drive forward the Tees Valley as a leader in research, science and innovation in the UK and the world.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “This is the single biggest investment we have made so far. The new National Horizons Centre will be a beacon of all we are good at here in the Tees Valley.

“Our rich history of innovation, research and development is set to continue thanks to this state-of-the-art facility in Darlington. I’m pleased the Northern Powerhouse Minister has come up today to launch this exciting project.

“The new economy will be built on biologics and digital – key sectors we need to support. This massive £17.5million commitment is testament to the importance we have placed on securing jobs for the future.

“Helping Teesside University to achieve academic excellence is a major strand of my wider education and training plans. I look forward to continuing to work with the university and its partners as they deliver the high-quality skills training needed to build a Tees Valley fit for the future.”

Councillor Bill Dixon, Leader of Darlington Borough Council and Tees Valley Combined Authority Cabinet Member, said: “Darlington Central Park is one of our flagship developments, where business, residential and learning sit side by side.

“We are particularly excited to see the National Horizons Centre complement the National Biologics Centre and our own Business Central, which both opened in 2014, to create a place where science and innovation can flourish.

“STEM skills are top of the agenda and this first class facility will give our young people fantastic training opportunities in the future.”

The £22.3million investment in the National Horizons Centre is part of Teesside University’s ambitious campus masterplan, which will see £300million spent over the next 10 years in transforming its estate to continue to provide an outstanding student and learning experience.

Professor Croney,Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Teesside University said: “The National Horizons Centre is the result of significant work with industry and our partners, to identify how best the bioscience sector can reach its full potential through provision of the right education, training and collaborative innovation.

“A key priority of Teesside University is to help drive the knowledge economy, by growing the high-level skills base, building partnerships with industry and the professions, and creating graduates with the knowledge, aptitude and mindset to add real value to business.

“Our investment in The National Horizons Centre is an example of this in action. It will play a vital role, providing first-class facilities and programmes to grow knowledge and research in sectors that are set to transform the UK economy.”

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