28th September 2001

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The University of Ulster today opened the Science Innovation Centre at its Science Research Park, Coleraine.

The Centre, which will provide up to 100 direct and indirect jobs, provides top-flight facilities for new biotechnology companies being formed from the University's world-class biomedical research activities at the Coleraine campus.

There are also specialised facilities for new high technology start-up businesses to grow and establish close links with the University’s research expertise and personnel.

The Centre provides:

• 18,000 square feet of accommodation


• an IT wing for firms developing software


• a bioscience wing, providing laboratory accommodation for new biotechnology companies

There are also meeting rooms, reception areas and a café, together with a support
infrastructure including state-of-the-art data and telecommunications facilities.

Already, the Centre has secured tenants from IT and biotechnology start-up companies, including

• Xentox Limited


• Causeway Data Communications Limited


• Gazer Technologies Limited


• Pentillex Solutions Limited.

Further companies are in negotiation with the University to take space in the Science Innovation Centre, including a joint venture between a US biotechnology company and the University of Ulster Diabetes Research Group.


Speaking at the opening, Professor Gerry McKenna, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ulster, said

“The Science Innovation Centre is a central plank in the University's integrated technology and knowledge transfer strategy – providing the link between academic research
excellence and the creation of new knowledge-based companies.

“The University of Ulster is committed to the commercial exploitation of our intellectual
property for the economic benefit of Northern Ireland. This development, coupled with the Science Research Park initiatives, will allow the University of Ulster to help drive the development of the knowledge-based economy in Northern Ireland. We are committed to working with Government and business to secure Northern Ireland's future economic prosperity.”

Dr Chris Barnett, Chief Executive, University of Ulster Science Research Parks said: “The Science Innovation Centre clearly demonstrates the strength of partnership that exists between the University, local and regional Government and business. We are committed to providing the necessary infrastructure to encourage the start-up and successful growth of new
companies coupled with the opportunity for larger companies to cluster around the centres of research excellence at the University of Ulster. This mixture of research excellence and innovation together with appropriate infrastructure has already been demonstrated to deliver regional economic growth in the US and Europe. Northern Ireland will see the benefits from the investments made in these facilities over the coming years as we move to a knowledge-based economy helping to provide greater job and wealth creation and provide new innovative technologies for our new and traditional industries.”

Professor John Hughes, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research and Development paid tribute to the vision of DETI and DEL in investing in the development of innovation centres. He said “The role and support of IRTU in the development of the University's technology and knowledge transfer programmes cannot be underestimated.

“Over many years IRTU has provided visionary funding to establish centres of excellence across the University. With the additional support from DEL for the creation of the innovation centres we will now start reaping the rewards of these investments. The University has formed 15 new start-ups since 1998 and has a strong pipeline for future company formations.

“While we appreciate that many new high technology start-up companies fail in the first few years, statistics demonstrate that those that go through a process of incubation within innovation centres have a much greater chance of growing into sustainable businesses than those that do not.”

As part of the official opening the University of Ulster and North Carolina State University signed an Institutional Memorandum of Agreement consolidating their transatlantic partnership on teaching, research, technology transfer and science research park activities.

Present at the opening was Professor Jaine Place from North Carolina State University, USA and Dr Fernando Quezada, Director of the Biotechnology Centres of Excellence Corporation, Massachusetts, USA.
Professor Place said “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.

“This has been a very rapid development by the University with the establishment of the research park buildings in little more than 12 months. We have established sister park status with the University to help our companies expand their operations into the European market and vice versa.”

For further information, please contact:

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