Trinity College, the College of Sir Isaac Newton among many other distinguished scientists, has long been at the centre of scientific innovation in Cambridge University.
The College was an early promoter of technology transfer to industry with the development of the Cambridge Science Park, which is now occupied by more than 90 companies with some 5,000 employees. The College would like to do more to translate Cambridge research into companies and products; particularly in the very early stage companies. It is known that science incubators can help in these early stages, in particular by providing teams and start-up companies with flexible and affordable space, education, mentoring and finance. It is expected that these companies will thrive in the self-sustaining entrepreneurial culture of the new Centre and the Science Park.
Sir Gregory Winter, Master of Trinity College said that ‘Trinity College is pleased to help on all these fronts by providing a highly flexible building at the heart of the Science Park, and working with other partners to help with education, mentoring and seed financing. We hope to promote a culture in which we not only help to develop technologies and companies, but also the entrepreneurs who will build the industries of the future. We are particularly pleased to associate this building with Sir John Bradfield, former Senior Bursar of the College, who was instrumental in the creation of the Cambridge Science Park’.
Neil Darwin, Interim Chief Executive of the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP, said: “Technology is the beating heart of the Cambridge economy, with innovations from our area defining the future of science across the globe. Trinity College’s Sir John Bradfield Centre will help to ensure that we continue to support the development of new technologies that will provide an important future stimulus to UK plc. Here at the LEP, we are pleased to have played our part in developing the business case and pushing this proposal forward. We therefore welcome the news from the Prime Minister today that the Department for Business Innovation and Skills will partner with Trinity College to build this exciting new technology centre.”
Image: Prime Minister David Cameron with Sir Gregory Winter, Master of Trinity College.
Notes
(a) Sir Gregory Winter - Master of Trinity: is himself a successful scientific entrepreneur. In 1989 he founded Cambridge Antibody Technology, one of the early commercial biotech companies involved in antibody engineering; in 2000, he founded Domantis (now GSK) which pioneered the use of domain antibodies; and in 2009 he founded another company, Bicycle Therapeutics Limited which is trying to develop very small protein mimics.
(b)Sir John Bradfield 1925 – 2014: One name alone is synonymous with the foundation of Cambridge Science Park: Sir John Bradfield, Senior Bursar of Trinity College from 1956 to 1992.
Right from the start, Sir John saw that establishing and developing the links between the University and hi-tech tenants was critical to the success of Cambridge Science Park. His evident fascination in science and technology was deep rooted. Sir John won a scholarship to study natural sciences at Trinity College in 1942 and he became a research fellow in zoology in 1947.
On October 13th 2014, Sir John passed away at Trinity College, en route to a Cambridge Science Park Forum.
www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/obituaries/article4259960.ece
(c) Proposed new Technology Centre: It will be a new building on the1.25 acre site of Building 184 providing a net internal floor area of 36,000 sq. ft. over three floors. Two thirds of the building (24,000 sq. ft.) will be innovation and lab space. In addition, about 6,000 sq. ft. will provide space for a café, retail unit, conference and meeting rooms and communal networking area. The residue of the building will be available to more established tenants at commercial rates.
(d) Cambridge Science Park: It is 45 years since Trinity College embraced the concept that would change the hi-tech sector in Cambridge, the UK and beyond. Evolving since 1970, the Park is now home to an exceptional cluster of more than 90 companies which range from exciting new start-ups to some of the world's leading hi-tech businesses.
Cambridge Science Park is internationally renowned for innovation in the applied sciences, and with its pre-eminence in the field is uniquely placed to lead new technological advances in the 21st Century.
The Park covers 152 acres and in total there is 1,566,000 sq. ft. of R&D accommodation.
www.cambridgesciencepark.co.uk
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For further information please contact:
Julie Bushell on: 01223 559331/ 07881511619
Or email Julie.bushell@bidwells.co.uk
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