University is one of seven ‘gold partners’ unveiled by the Cheshire-based national science and innovation campus for the next 12 months. Tony McDonough reports.

The University of Liverpool is one of seven organisations and companies that have agreed to offer strategic support to companies based at Sci-Tech Daresbury.

The Cheshire-based national science and innovation campus has unveiled its seven “gold partners” for the next 12 months.

As well as the university the other six are Dow Schofield Watts, Grant Thornton, IBM, Marks & Clerk, RTC North and Slater Heelis.

They will offer expert support in areas such as intellectual property, financial and tax management, corporate finance and funding, IT, legal services, technology commercialisation, and scientific research.

Sci-Tech Daresbury is home to the ground-breaking STFC Daresbury Laboratory and the Cockcroft Institute as well as more than 100 high-tech companies. The site was originally established in 2006

The site has experienced substantial growth in the last year with the completion of the new state-of-the-art Techspace Two and the imminent completion of its larger sister building Techspace One.

John Downes, group managing director of Langtree and chairman of the Sci-Tech Daresbury joint venture company, said: “We’re delighted to have chosen seven fantastic partners who will help Sci-Tech Daresbury continue to develop and prosper in the coming year.

“We have experienced a very successful year with many new high tech businesses joining our site and the continuous development of the campus.

“The Sci-Tech Daresbury site provides a UK front door for many businesses and we’re looking forward to continuing that invaluable provision with the support and expertise of our gold partners.”