9th July 2001

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The University of Ulster opens the third phase of its Science Research Park at the Magee campus today

The £1.7m project, which has taken a year to complete, has two specially designed prestige pavilions, offerng 10000 sq ft of space in total.  It complements the campus’s Technology and Software incubator Centre, and the International Business Centre which are already in operation. In total, the three Science Park components bring 25,000 sq ft of top flight business accommodation and 200 high quality jobs to the city.

“These are ultra high specification buildings offering exactly the kind of quality dedicated acommodation high techology companies need,” said Dr Chris Barnett, CEO of the University of Ulster’s Science Research Park Project (UUSRP).

“Taken together, these three elements give us the ability to accommodate growing companies at all stages of their development, from spins outs and new start ups in the TSIC,  through to inward investment initiatives by mature companies, which do not require full scale incubator facilities. And the new pavilions bring larger scale space for companies which have outgrown the TSIC and the IBC facilities.”

Already, top NI Internet firms E-Host Europe and Northbrook Technologies have signed up as tenants for the new pavilions. Their business aims harmonise closely with the  University’s drive to consolidate the Magee campus as a centre of international excellence in the technologies which power today’s knowledge-basedfeconomy.

And the developments at the Magee campus are not over, said Dr Barnett. “We’re currently planning a fourth phase of the Science Park,which will create an additional 20,000 sq ft of business accommodation on the Park. We’re also seeking further expansion possibilities in the city.”

“Our Science Park development will deliver significant boost  to technology based compnaies located in the city; that will increase wealth generation, and boost the amount of money going in to the local
economy; from that will come  enhanced social and cultural development in the city.

“There is a significant opportunity  to dynamise economic and social development in the city and region – and we’re glad to be able to contribute in this way to the community we serve.”

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk