Sciontec Liverpool is a spin-out company of knowledge sector development vehicle KQ Liverpool and is the operator of Liverpool Science Park. Tony McDonough reports
Property giant Bruntwood has taken a 25% stake in Liverpool Science Park operator Sciontec via its joint venture vehicle Bruntwood Sci-Tech, in a deal worth £12m.
Sciontec Liverpool is a spin-out company of KQ Liverpool – a strategic and placemaking organisation which is overseeing a £2bn development programme in the city’s first Mayoral Development Zone.
Liverpool City Council, Liverpool John Moores University, the University of Liverpool are there other three owners of Sciontec and has unveiled plans for new entrance and reception at Liverpool Science Park and new space at the city council’s Paddington Village development.
Bruntwood SciTech is a 50/50 joint venture between Bruntwood and Legal & General and focuses on developments in the science and technology sector. Its portfolio across Manchester, Leeds, Cheshire and Birmingham already includes more than 500 science and technology businesses.
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Phil Kemp, chief executive of Bruntwood SciTech, said: “Now, more than ever, the importance of the UK’s science and tech sector is firmly in the public’s consciousness.
“But what the current crisis has also shown is the importance of individual cities with the infrastructure, facilities and talent necessary to deal with short-term issues head-on and provide a base for long-term innovation and success.
“Liverpool has undergone significant regeneration in recent years and we’re proud to be part of Sciontec Liverpool, supporting the growth of the city’s science and tech sector”
Liverpool Science Park has also recently taken over the facilities management for Sensor City, as the first step in creating a shared service platform across all of Liverpool’s science and tech assets.
Professor Dame Janet Beer, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool and chair of Sciontec Liverpool, added: “Sciontec Liverpool, now with Bruntwood SciTech as an investor, demonstrates that private and public partnership works.
“It has commitment, momentum, capacity and delivery potential but more importantly, it is unique to Liverpool, yet now part of a much bigger national picture. Our strengths in fighting infection and disease, digital health, personalised medicine and civic data, materials chemistry, robotics, big data and artificial intelligence will be even more relevant as we move to the recovery phase which will follow the current crisis.”
Despite the challenges of working remotely during the global pandemic legal advisors for both parties, DLA Piper and Addleshaw Goddard, worked with the owners, who all agreed that this deal demonstrates that Liverpool is still open for business.