Chesterford Research Park – fostering growth and innovation

Martin Sylvester, Director of The Churchmanor Estates Company developer of Chesterford Research Park

RAPID changes in the competitive environment have created a new world of competition, and a renewed emphasis on innovation. A fierce contest set in a truly global context, the economy will be led by those who innovate – creating, finding and turning knowledge into new products and services, faster than their competitors.

Innovation has long been a talent admired in individuals and applauded in companies but,more than this, it is vital to business success. In 2007the world’s largest corporate R&D spenders spent a combined $492 billion on innovation, up 10% on the previous year.

The international flow of ideas brings special advantages to countries like the UK, which means that the country is able to produce over 5% of the world’s research from just 1% of its population. The UK has the number two R&D pipeline in the world and the largest in Europe, producing 30% of all pharma¬ceutical products discovered in the EU thanks to its world class universities and highly skilled workforce.

In particular the South Cambridgeshire bio¬cluster has established itself as one of Europe’s strongest knowledge based locations, with a quarter of Europe’s publicly quoted biotech companies. World renowned universities and centuries old research tradition with a track record of attracting venture capital investment and highly skilled labour source makes the location particularly attractive. At Chesterford Research Park we realise the advantages of locating within an environment that actively helps to foster innovation. Providing a supportive and nurturing environment not only attracts the right people and businesses, but equally enables them to interact and can play a pivotal role in this process.

The critical mass effect and Chesterford’s unique setting in 250 acres of open parkland, with unrivalled amenities such as, state of the art conferencing facilities, a gym, golf club, and award winning restaurant, continues to attract further companies and increase the pool of skilled labour.

US based Illumina Inc, one of the world’s leading developers, manufactur¬ers and marketers of next generation life¬ science tools and integrated systems, is moving in this year, having taken a pre¬let of the Gonville Laboratory to establish its new European headquarters at Chesterford.

The Gonville Building will provide 41,500 sq.ft. of laboratory space, built to shell and core specification with 113 car parking spaces.

This latest construction work adds to the flurry of activity Chesterford Research Park has seen over this past year, establishing itself as the hub for the bioscience industry in South Cambridge, as more research and bioscience companies are attracted to the Park.

This is illustrated by the calibre of companies in occupation including Pfizer, Illumina, Isogenica Ltd, Biofocus DPI, Biolauncher, Biotica, Cellzome, Medivir, UKSPA, Cellcentric and Cambridge Healthcare & Biotech.

Another landmark development known as the Emmanuel Laboratory is currently being fitted out ready for Pfizer, the world’s biggest pharmaceutical company, to move in during 2009. In a major deal, signalling expansion in its Cambridge ¬based drug delivery research activities, Pfizer, has leased two buildings at Chesterford Research Park, totalling some 4,830 sq. m. (52,000 sq. ft.), as it extends its R&D operations at Chesterford.

Isogenica Ltd, developer of innova¬tive molecular evolution technologies, is also moving in at Chesterford’s 19th century Mansion House, which continues to act as a magnet for smaller start up companies.

Chesterford Research Park is home to companies that have made a real difference. Today, scientists, inventors and entrepreneurs work side by side on the development of life¬ changing drugs in a sustainable environment that meets the requirements of innovation led and technology driven companies.