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Dr David Gillham, Sir David Bell and Dr Paul Preston
Thames Valley Science Park open for business Flagship Gateway building has welcomed its new tenants The University of Reading-owned Thames Valley Science Park opened its doors for business as tenants moved into the flagship ‘Gateway’ building. The building is part of a £35 million investment in the Science Park and is the first to open. It provides 70,000 square feet of flexible office and laboratory space for around 20 technology-led companies ranging from early stage start-ups to global research and development centres. These include companies such as BioInteractions Limited, Covance, Sage People and Clasado BioSciences. Tenants will have access to a highspeed digital infrastructure that will meet the vast data needs of their businesses. Other amenities at the site located in Shinfield (just off junction 11 of the M4) include a café, conference facilities and flexible meeting spaces.
A dedicated hub for entrepreneurs and growing businesses will also be based in the ‘Gateway’ building. Innovation Catalyst is a collaboration between VitalSix, a specialist in supporting growing businesses, Thames Valley Science Park and Barclays Eagle Labs. The Thames Valley Science Park will be the amongst the biggest dedicated science parks in the region and one of the largest in the South East. The full Science Park will take up to 20 years to be fully developed, with significant long-term investment from the University of Reading. The second building, an innovative cancer treatment centre being built by Proton Partners International Ltd, is under construction and will open later this year. The company is investing £30 million to build its own purpose-built centre, which will help to meet growing demand for proton beam therapy, a specialised type of cancer treatment that is not yet available in the UK.
Plans for the third building in Phase One were approved in February 2018. Sir David Bell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: “The Thames Valley Science Park is the first of its kind in the region, and a sign of the University’s commitment to investing in the local economy. Its location just outside London - and close to major transport hubs like the M4, Reading Station and Heathrow - will attract new UK and international businesses to the area, in turn creating more jobs and wealth. “The launch today is the culmination of many years of hard work. It also represents an exciting moment for the University as it further enhances its reputation for excellence - locally, nationally and internationally.” ■
For more information, visit: www.tvsp.co.uk
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