Why your business should be in Science Vale UK

The Science Vale UK Enterprise Zone provides a business rate discount worth up to £275,000 per business over a five year period (£55,000 a year), simplified planning, super fast broadband and business support.

George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer commented ‘the Science Vale Enterprise Zone will harness the region’s unparalleled research and development base to create a wealth of innovative and high growth businesses. The region is home to some of the newest and fastest growing businesses in high performance engineering, biotechnology and medical instruments, and the Science Vale enterprise zone provides the opportunity to unlock the region’s full potential.’

Science Vale UK is host to an almost unparalleled concentration of science and technology activity and enterprise, at the heart of which lie some of the world’s most significant science and research facilities. One of the key sectoral strengths of this cluster is Energy: From world-leading research and development into fusion energy and renewables through energy storage technologies to efficiency in use, technology companies and research organisations in Science Vale UK are already and will increasingly be making important contributions to sourcing, managing and using energy. In doing so, they are also creating new business opportunities.

 

In May 2011, at Culham Science Centre, leading organisations from this cluster showcased their energy-related science, technology, developments, applications and products; giving examples of the commercial opportunities that these have created; and considering the opportunities for the future.

 

In his keynote presentation, Professor Sir Christopher Llewellyn-Smith FRS (Oxford University) set the context. The world needs to develop new sources of energy, notably nuclear fusion and solar, as well as new ways of storing energy and using it efficiently. Research organisations and technology companies in Science Vale UK are at the leading edge of much of this work.

 

Science, research and industry experts led thematic sessions covering fusion technology, renewable energy technology and energy in buildings  - giving real insight into how businesses are collaborating with research organisations to bring new technologies to market, the contribution and commercial opportunities of emerging energy-related technologies and the benefits of the Science Vale UK and wider Oxfordshire ‘cluster’ of [energy-related] organisations.

 

Feedback on the event was very positive particularly in relation to new connections. Professor Nic Harrison (STFC/Imperial College), who led the Renewable Energy Technologies session, commented that his was “an enthusiastic session considering renewable energy technologies and the global challenges of energy supply and climate change. A number of interesting opportunities for Science Vale UK emerged from general discussions of wind, marine and solar energy technologies.”. Dr Derek Stork (CCFE) said “the message of our [Fusion Technology and Industry] session was that, irrespective of the size of firm, everyone in the high tech design, R&D and manufacturing sector can benefit from the immediate business opportunities ... and success would drive business capability improvement”.

 

Exhibitors ranged from world-leading science and research organisations, such as the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy and Diamond Light Source Ltd, to specialist developers and producers of energy- related products, including Oxis Energy (with their Lithium battery expertise).

 

After the event, Professor Steve Cowley, Chief Executive of the UK Atomic Energy Authority and Chair of the Science Vale UK Partnership commented that “The meeting was just excellent. The goals of Science Vale UK clearly resonate with the local business community.”

 

You can download the keynote presentation by Professor Sir Christopher Llewellyn-Smith FRS from this page. Other presentations are available at http://www.slideshare.net/ScienceValeUK

The Science Vale UK community shares scientific knowledge with partners around the world. While science itself is the common language of these exchanges and understood globally, cultural diversity can sometimes impede communications.

 

Prior to sending a delegation of senior staff to meet with colleagues in China, the Medical Research Council  based on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, engaged local consultancy expatknowhow, specialists in cultural relations – to take staff through a cross cultural briefing and ensure they were fully prepared for their visit.

A sensor that can withstand extreme environments is being trialled at RWE npower’s Didcot B power station to help improve the efficiency of the gas turbines and promote a cleaner environment.   The Wave-Phire sensor was developed by Oxsensis, an award winning technology spin-out company based on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus.  It is the world’s first commercial temperature and pressure sensor capable of operating at up to 1000 degrees Celsius.

UK industry has won well over £100M worth of contracts so far from construction of the ITER fusion project in France, but needs to do better if it is to benefit from the next construction phase, worth up to Euro 2Bn. That is one of the conclusions of a UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) sponsored event on ‘Business Opportunities for UK plc for Fusion and ITER’ held at Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE), Science Vale UK, on 23 September. ITER will be the world's largest fusion energy experiment when it is completed in 2019. The next phase will see a large portion of the project's Euro 10Bn tokamak and buildings construction budget being spent.

 

The perfect scenario – from innovation to generation, Culham Science Centre has once again been able to accommodate a growing company from their Innovation Centre run by Oxford Innovation.

OXIS Energy Limited, a company at the forefront of building next generation rechargeable batteries, has expanded into much larger office and laboratory premises, with dry room facilities, at the established and successful Culham Science Centre, situated to the south of Oxford.

A Didcot PLUSBUS ticket gives you unlimited bus travel on participating operators’ services, from Didcot train station around the whole urban area of Didcot including Milton Park and Harwell Oxford. See http://www.plusbus.info/didcot-plusbus-includes-harwell-campus for full details

Zircotec's production facility is on the Harwell Campus within Science Vale UK.

Zircotec offers a wide range of plasma sprayed ceramic and metallic coatings that protect components against the effects of heat, wear, abrasion and corrosion. Lightweight and easily packaged, Zircotec's technologies can be applied to a broad range of different materials including metals and composites. Proven in Formula 1 and the nuclear industry, the technology is now used by car manufacturers, industrial users, car enthusiasts and an increasing range of other applications to effectively manage heat and wear, enhancing performance and reliability. ZircoFlex™, the latest development from Zircotec, offers for the first time, a truly flexible ceramic coating.

Science Vale UK has a wide range of commercial property to suit the needs of companies relocating to the area. Download a listing of the business park owners and some of the agents that have commercial property available in Science Vale UK.