Chancellor George Osborne has hailed Manchester as “perhaps the first great scientific city of the modern age” and said investment in science was at the heart of his plans to create a Northern Powerhouse.
He was speaking at the official launch of the European City of Science 2016 at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) when Rowena Burns, chief executive of Manchester Science Partnerships, confirmed a £40m life sciences fund for businesses in the region will open next year.
Manchester was officially named the European City of Science in June. The title is held for two years as Manchester builds towards hosting Europe’s largest general scientific conference ESOF – the EuroScience Open Forum – in summer 2016.
Osborne, who announced a £3m investment for new exhibition space at MOSI, praised the city’s strength as a hub for science and innovation, saying it formed a key part of his ‘Northern Powerhouse’ vision.
“This is not about the past but the future and the exciting things that are happening here in this city now and in the years ahead.”
Reiterating his view that the combined strength of the north’s cities could allow them to compete on a global stage, Osborne said the £235m Sir Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials Research and Innovation announced as part of the Autumn Statement “cements the future for this great scientific city in one of its strongest fields”.
“I want to redress the imbalance in this country between north and south, London and the rest, and Manchester is leading the way in helping us a nation do that and science is at the forefront,” Osborne added.
ESOF is a biennial, pan-European convention that is dedicated to scientific research and innovation. It has just completed its 2014 programme in the city of Copenhagen.
The July 2016 event is expected to bring 4,500 delegates to Manchester, while generating approximately £8.3m for the economy.
Speaking at the same event, Rowena Burns confirmed a £40m life sciences fund would open in April 2015. It is expected to create 370 jobs and generate £340m in GVA.
The fund will invest in start-ups and early-stage companies. It has been backed by MSP, AstraZeneca and local enterprise partnerships in the region among others.
MSP purchased AstraZeneca’s Alderley Park earlier this year in a deal funded by Bruntwood, MSP and Cheshire East Council.
AstraZeneca is relocating most of its operations to a new location in Cambridge but will retain 700 staff in Cheshire.
Information from Insider Media on 9/12/14
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