North West Science Park
Project: North West Regional Science Park
Lead Partner: NW Region Cross Border Group
Partners: Northern Ireland Science Park (Project Lead) and Letterkenny Institute of Technology
Amount Awarded: Total Cost of project £12,051,925
Timeframe: 1 October 2011 to 30 June 2015
The North West Regional Science Park project is the Group’s Flagship project and will establish the Island’s first cross border Science Park with sister developments in the Derry City Council and Donegal County Council areas.
The impressive commercial and research centre currently being constructed on the Fort George site in Derry/Londonderry will see 50,000 sq ft of space provided. The sister development at Letterkenny Institute of Technology campus will see 20,000 sq ft provided, which will build on the existing CoLab offer.
An important focus of the project is to provide an ecosystem within the centres which will support businesses in the knowledge sector during their “Growth” and “Research & Development” phases. The project will maximise the investment in Project Kelvin and provide critical business infrastructure and support to enable new and growing businesses to capitalise on their development and innovation potential.
The centres are being constructed to a tight schedule and are currently on target for completion. The sod-cutting event for the Fort George site took place in September 2013 and by March the foundations and structural frame, upper floors, staircases and roof were complete. The internal fit-out is well advanced with completion expected by July. Exterior works on landscaping and car parking is also ongoing. Commercial terms have been agreed with tenants for the top floor of the building and discussions are underway with other potential business occupants.
The sod turning event at the LYIT site took place on the 12th of May 2014 in which An Taoiseach Enda Kenny welcomed the ongoing commitment of partners to business and jobs growth through collaboration. Contractors have now been appointed and are working towards a final completion date of May 2015.
The NW Regional Science Park will see the region’s business Ecosystem encompass the ‘triple helix’ approach to innovation development with private, public and academic sectors working together in line with best practice.
Ultimately, the NW Regional Science Park will become a self-sustaining enterprise, research and development entity, enhancing added value job generating capacity and stimulating a step change in the economic prospects for the North West Cross Border Region.