Innovation UK > News > Innovation UK Vol6-1 > Invest in Nottingham - A city building on success

Nottingham?s reputation as one of the UK?s leading science cities has been born out of its long-standing history as a centre of innovation and creativity, as well as the vision of Invest in Nottingham to further expand its knowledge-driven economy. With one in five jobs in Greater Nottingham being based in science-related sectors, the city has a wealth of knowledge and expertise for businesses looking to invest in the area.

Nottingham?s economy is underpinned by its knowledge-based industries and it is becoming recognised as a city for research and development, innovation and discovery, particularly in areas such as biomedical technologies, environmental technologies and ICT all of which Invest in Nottingham promotes.

Science and technology businesses based in Nottingham are able to access world-class research and innovation opportunities. The city's two universities, the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University, have long-standing links with industrial leaders such as AstraZeneca, Rolls Royce and E:On. The 2009 RAE ratings confirmed that both universities have research areas of ?Internationally Excellent? and ?World-Leading? standards.

Invest in Nottingham is also able to offer a range of high-quality property solutions for businesses looking to expand or relocate in the city region. BioCity Nottingham, the UK?s largest bioscience incubator, is able to offer excellent office and laboratory facilities and is already home to 60 companies employing over 500 people on site. Businesses are able to access a wide range of support services on-site, including Invest in Nottingham, networks, funding support, legal advice and HR support. BioCity, in partnership with Nottingham City Council, has also recently launched the Mobius Life Sciences Fund, the first investment fund in the East Midlands focused on life sciences.

Invest in Nottingham has two well-established science parks in the city ? Nottingham Science Park and University of Nottingham Innovation Park, which can offer high-quality technology and office space for start-ups through to corporate-level businesses.

The city is also planning a third science park ? MediPark, which will be located adjacent to the Queen?s Medical Centre, one of the UK?s largest teaching hospitals. The 3.5 hectare site will offer high-quality business space for companies in the clinical and medical technologies sector and provide excellent links with the hospital and the University of Nottingham.

Invest in Nottingham and the Bio-medical sector

Nottingham?s biomed sector is one of the most important in the UK. Nottingham has key strengths in areas including drug development, animal health and regenerative medicine. As well as a concentration of successful businesses in BioCity Nottingham, the city is home to leading businesses including CARE Fertility, Perceptive and Source Bioscience. The two universities in the city are also leading research centres in areas including immunology, cancer research, regenerative medicine and clinical medicine. The city is also home to one of the largest teaching hospitals, Queens Medical Centre, which has close links with the universities and industry.

Invest in Nottingham and the importance of Environmental Technologies

Nottingham has a burgeoning environmental or ?green-tech? sector with a range of businesses from hi-tech start ups to big established companies in areas including renewable energy, energy efficiency and low-carbon technologies. Nottingham?s two universities already have leading expertise in many of the low-carbon areas of research which have been identified by government as keys to future growth. These include green chemistry, low-energy buildings and carbon capture and storage. The University of Nottingham?s research income for energy technologies is currently around £30m. Looking to the region, the sector contributes almost £3.5bn to the East Midlands economy and employs over 61,000 people.

ICT

Nottingham has a fast-growing ICT sector, with particular strengths in software development, gaming, retail solutions, telecommunication systems and transport technologies. Companies such as XMA, Serif, Romax Technologies and Crytek are based in the city, highlighting the breadth and depth of the sector. The University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University both have excellent research centres which have a history of industrial collaboration, including GRACE ? the newly opened GNSS Research and Applications Centre of Excellence, which is leading the way in global navigation research and development.

Ken Nettleship
Tel: +44 (0) 115 915 5350
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Website: www.investinnottingham.co.uk