AstraZeneca has today announced the second wave of arrivals to the BioHub at its Alderley Park site.
The six organisations, Gentronix Limited, Cyprotex Discovery Limited, Bionow, OncoTherics Limited, Integral Finance and The Research Network will join the existing tenants at the BioHub, which was set up by AstraZeneca as a collaborative R&D centre in which bioscience businesses can take advantage of Alderley Park's scientific heritage and state-of-the-art research facilities.
The growth of the BioHub complements the work of the Alderley Park taskforce to capitalise and build on the existing local bioscience network and expertise, and to support the growth of the life-science business cluster in the North West region. The taskforce, which was established following AstraZeneca's announcement that its R&D facilities will be relocated to Cambridge by 2016, is working to help ensure Alderley Park sustains high value employment and investment opportunities to support the local economy into the future.
The taskforce, which brings together partners across Local Government, the University of Manchester and the Local Enterprise Partnership, is currently assessing sustainable business models for the future of Alderley Park, and undertaking activity to encourage new investment, enterprise and employment opportunities into the area.
Chris Brinsmead, the Government's Life Sciences Adviser and co-chair of the taskforce said: "The work of the taskforce is well underway and, by bringing together the key local stakeholders we are making important progress in securing the future of Alderley Park. It is great to see AstraZeneca's BioHub initiative bearing fruit, as we continue to assess options for the site as a whole. I've been impressed by the support and dedication of the taskforce members and AstraZeneca's commitment to ensuring a vibrant future for Alderley Park. I've no doubt that the site will continue to be an important centre for life-sciences in the North West well into the future."
Clive Morris, UK Strategic Implementation Lead at AstraZeneca and co-chair of the taskforce said: "We are excited to be able to announce the arrival of more BioHub tenants today. Along with our existing tenants these companies add to the richness of the bioscience expertise located at Alderley Park, and will play a role in securing longer term investment and employment opportunities. We are also pleased to see the progress of the taskforce in helping to shape a strong and sustainable future for Alderley Park – a future we will be very much a part of through our continuing presence on the site."
Leader of Cheshire East Council, Councillor Michael Jones, has welcomed the confirmation of more companies joining the BioHub.
He said: "When David Rutley MP and I met with AstraZeneca in the summer of 2013, we started the hub and we were confident that the offer was going to be unique.
"When AstraZeneca first announced that they were going to close and move to Cambridge, we came together to ensure that 700 jobs were retained through negotiations and we were in a position so that tenants could move in quickly.
"Cheshire East supports AstraZeneca in its move to Cambridge but we are aware that the idea of a unique life science and medical hub was always the right thing for Alderley Park.
"We anticipate that, through the energy of our North Cheshire Life Science Hub Group, that met only last Friday and led by David Rutley MP, AstraZeneca's Chris Doherty, and myself, there will be many more companies joining them and great things will happen at this site.
"This further underlines the fact that Cheshire East is the best place to live and work, and indeed this has been a good year for Cheshire East with the creation of many new jobs in the North, East and South of the borough. Cheshire East is most certainly enjoying an economic recovery and this news cements that position."
MP George Osborne was in Nether Alderley last month to meet with Pascal Soirot, the Chief Executive of AstraZeneca.
Speaking about his visit George said "I wanted to meet with the worldwide head of Astra Zeneca at Alderley Park, because securing new jobs at the site is such an important priority for me. A number of science companies have either moved to Alderley Park, or are thinking of doing so - and the future there looks brighter than it did a few months ago. But we've still got a way to go, and working with the company, Cheshire East council and others, I'm determined we'll get there."
The Alderley Park BioHub was launched by AstraZeneca in May, with the arrival of RedX Anti-Infectives Limited, Blueberry Therapeutics and Imagen Biotech.
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