Navigation menu

Canterbury Innovation Centre underway

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kent welcomed the Minister for the South East, Jonathan Shaw MP and representatives from South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), Kent County Council and the East Kent Spatial Development Company (EKSDC) to the University's Canterbury campus where they took part in the ground-breaking ceremony for the £7.3m Canterbury Innovation Centre on 3 December 2008.

The Centre, due for completion in October 2009, is being funded by SEEDA and built by the EKSDC. It will provide much needed high-tech incubation space and support for entrepreneurs in almost 25,000 sq ft of offices, studios and workshops. The Centre is part of the University's strategy to encourage innovation and enterprise within the University and to make it more attractive for graduates to stay and work locally.

Vice Chancellor Professor Julia Goodfellow said, 'We are pleased to be able to work with SEEDA and the EKSDC on this exciting project. It is especially important at this time that we support the creation of jobs and support businesses in the local area. The University of Kent is critical to the local economy and we are ideally placed to provide support for developing businesses.'

The building itself has high quality design and excellent sustainability credentials. These include the use of a biomass boiler for heating, photovoltaics, rainwater harvesting and strategic urban drainage which will limit run-off.

The development is being project managed by Basepoint with RH Partnership as the architects. Morgan Ashurst is the contractor. Basepoint will operate the centre on behalf of East Kent Spatial Development Company.

Accommodation related queries should be directed to Basepoint on 0800 197 3494 or email hq@basepoint.co.uk

Contact: mediaoffice@kent.ac.uk

Story published at 10:40am 4 December 2008