New centre for engineering excellence opened at Southampton Science Park

By Giles Gwinnett

11 October 2023

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Southampton Science Park, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, has again expanded its accommodation, opening a new regional centre for engineering excellence.

The Rt Hon. the Lord Willetts, chair of the UK space agency board and former minister of state for universities and science, officially opened the facility on October 10.

The new centre has specialist laboratories, workshops, offices and collaboration zones to support sectors such as eco-hydraulics, electronics, transport research, aerospace, and energy.

The centre is also home to the Future Towns Innovation Hub, a joint industry-academic venture led by the University of Southampton in partnership with the Enterprise M3 LEP and Research England.

"It is a great pleasure to be here, my first public engagement since being made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering earlier this month, said Lord Willetts.

"This prestigious new facility shines a light on the engineering talent that we have here on the south coast and provides a platform from which the sector can build and flourish.

"Judging by the people and companies that I’ve met here today, there’s no doubt that Southampton Science Park’s growing reputation, exemplified by projects like these, is making a meaningful contribution to the sustainable growth and prosperity of our region."

Professor Mark E. Smith, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Southampton, added: "The Engineering Centre, housing the Future Towns Innovation Hub, is a very important investment from the University and our partners.

"This unique facility, which encourages smart collaboration between academia and business, will play an important role in boosting opportunities to commercialise new research, grow skills and retain talent in the Southampton area."

Engineering is regarded as a critical industry and employs over six million (19% of the workforce) across the UK. It is predicted to grow as net zero ambitions increase demand for skills and innovation.

Set across 72 acres, Southampton Science Park at Chilworth offers a wide range of commercial offices, laboratories, meeting and conferencing facilities for new start-ups and leading technology businesses.

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By Giles Gwinnett

Giles Gwinnett is a writer at The Business Magazine. He has been a journalist for more than 20 years and covered a vast array of topics at a range of media settings - in print and online. After his NCTJ newspaper training, he became a reporter in Hampshire before moving to a news agency in Gloucestershire. In recent years, he has been covering the financial markets along with company news for an investor-focused web portal. His many interests include politics, energy and the environment. He lives in Dorset.