The presentation provides an overview of the Thornton Science Park development, including its location and transport links, current and future facilities, and key partners. The science park is a 66 acre site near ports and airports that will support up to 4,500 jobs. Current developments include a business incubator and grants for chemicals businesses, while planned facilities focus on energy research through a smart grid demonstrator. The long term vision is for the science park to be a hub for energy innovation through collaboration with universities and industry.

1. Charlie Woodcock
Executive Director, Strategic Projects Office
Melissa Parsons
Projects Office Manager
15th July 2014
Thornton Science Park

2. Overview of Presentation
Overview of Thornton Science Park Developments
 Commercial Lettings
 High Growth Centre (Incubation & Business
Support)
 Catalyst for Growth (Grants)
 Energy Demonstrator (R&D)
 Faculty of Science and Engineering (support
and students/graduates)
15th July 2014

3. Thornton Science Park – Where is it?
15th July 2014

4. Thornton Science Park – Where is it?
• Excellent motorway links (M53, M56, M6, M62)
• Proximity to:
 2 ports
 2 airports
• Easy access to Manchester, Liverpool and London
by train
• Opening of the Halton Curve railway (local links)
• Electric car charge points on Thornton
Transport Links…

5. Thornton Science Park – what is it?
• 66 acre site
• c.£200m facility
• Specialist equipment (aviation fuel testing loop,
fuels and lubricants blending facilities, )
• Employment capacity of up to 4,500 staff
• New business supported by undergraduate and
postgraduate activity
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6. Long-Term Vision for Thornton
• Centre for Energy Systems
• Collaborations (Fraunhofer and Catapult)
• Focus on R&D and innovation
• Co-location of University staff/students, large
businesses and SMEs
• Key node in ‘Cheshire Science Corridor’
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7. High Growth Centre (ERDF)
• Open innovation environment to support pre-start and
existing high growth potential SMEs in the Environment,
Engineering, Advanced Manufacturing and Automotive
sectors
• This will allow start-ups to be based on the new technology
campus, in close proximity to the other specialist facilities and
equipment available
• The £8.85m project will support:
• 41 business incubators
• 6 communal laboratory spaces
• 11.2 FTE staff
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8. High Growth Centre (contd)
• High Growth Centre is 3 buildings of 2328 square metres of
BREEAM very good space.
• Opening February 2015
• Pre entry Business Support currently available to interested
and affiliated SME’s and start ups:
 I.P and commercialisation
 Sales and marketing
 Supply chain
 Technical expertise
 Business Development and Export advice
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9. Catalyst for Growth Programme
• £8m grant scheme for businesses in the North West
chemicals sector
• Grants of up to £500,000 can be used to support
capital and equipment
• Project activities could include IP licensing,
experimental research or training
• 10% uplift on intervention rates in Assisted Areas
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10. Energy Demonstrator Facility
• £7m Smart Grid Demonstrator as part of Cheshire
Science Corridor
• Shared facility to test new technologies and model
energy usage with combinations of old and new
energy sources
• Neutral private sector facility to network and
conduct R&D activities in, particularly, the following
areas:
 energy storage
 energy networks
 asset management and decommissioning
 skills and training for the future energy sector workforce
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14. Future Development Plans
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15. Thornton Science Park: Roadmap for collaboration,
funding & partnership opportunities 2014-2020
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18. Key Partners and Stakeholders
BAE
BASF
Boulting Group
CBI
Centrica
Chemelot
Cheshire and Warrington
LEP
C-Tech Innovation Limited
Cuadrilla
DOW
EA Technology
Energy Innovation Centre
Eon
Essar
Igas
Innospec
Lancashire Enterprise
Partnership
National Nuclear Laboratory
NSG Pilkington
NW Investment Fund for
Energy and Environment
PA Consulting Group
Scottish Power
Shell
Siemens
Sustainable Building
Envelope Centre (SBEC)
Tata Steel
UKTI
University of Central
Lancashire
University of Chester
University of Maastricht
URENCO UK Limited
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19. Contact Details
For any questions or a copy of the presentation
please contact:
• c.woodcock@chester.ac.uk
• m.parsons@chester.ac.uk
15th July 2014