science park for coleraine

The Coleraine Science Research Park was officially launched by Sir Reg Empey, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment. The Park focuses on life, health and environmental technologies and provides over 28,000 square metres of accommodation.

Two buildings have been completed to date, the 1705 square metre Science Innovation Centre is the gateway building to the park and offers full incubation support for companies and also provides flexible accommodation for small inward investing and indigenous companies seeking to locate in close proximity to the University research base and graduates. It became operational in May 2001. In addition the first Research Building a 4,000 square metre building offering multi-occupancy accommodation for biotechnology companies was completed in August 2001.

In addition to £6 million expenditure on buildings, £0.25 million was invested in additional infrastructure to facilitate future developments on the Park. A full master plan for future development was also submitted to the planning authorities.

At the launch, Professor Chris Barnett, CEO of University of Ulster Science Research Parks Ltd, highlighted the role of Coleraine, Ballymoney and Limavady Borough Councils, Coleraine Borough Partnership, the Northern Ireland Science Park Foundation, IDB, LEDU, IRTU, and partners in the private sector. He said:
“There has been an upsurge in interest in Northern Ireland for inward investing biotechnology companies and this is reflected in the demand for space in the Park. The rapid development of the Park has been due to our work with our partners. At completion we expect that the Park will provide jobs for 1300 people.”

Professor Jaine Place from North Carolina State University, USA said at the launch:
“This is a very exciting time for the University of Ulster. We have very close links with the University and particularly with the science research park developments, which have been modelled in part on our own Centennial campus developments. We have established sister park status with the University to help our companies expand their operations into the European market and vice-versa.”

Magee Science Research Park
The Magee Science Research Park was officially launched by Alan Shannon, Permanent Secretary, Department of Employment and Learning in July 2001.The Park focuses on software engineering and advanced internet technologies. The buildings are both leased to commercial tenants: E-Host Europe following expansion from the International Business Centre and Northbrook Technologies as an expansion of their activities in Northern Ireland. Two tenant companies of the Technology and Software Innovation Centre – 8over8 Ltd and TDWP Ltd – continued to expand their activities.

Additional accommodation for inward investing companies is provided in the International Business Centre. “These are ultra high specification buildings offering exactly the kind of quality dedicated accommodation high technology companies need,” said Professor Chris Barnett. “Taken together, the science park elements give us the ability to accommodate growing companies at all stages of their development, from spin-outs and new start-ups through to inward investment initiatives by mature companies, which do not require full scale incubator facilities.”

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