THE Duke of York has agreed to become Royal Patron of the two national science and innovation campuses at Daresbury and Harwell.

As the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment, the Duke will help raise the international profile of the two campuses as world-leading centres for business, investment in multi-disciplinary science, and research and development.

Both campuses are operated by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and its chairman, Prof Michael Sterling, said: “We are delighted with confirmation that His Royal Highness will be the Royal Patron.

“He has visited both Daresbury and Harwell campuses, and is an enthusiastic supporter of the benefits to the wider economy and society of a strong science and technology base in the UK.”

Daresbury is operated by a partnership of the STFC, the Northwest Development Agency, the Universities of Liverpool, Manchester and Lancaster, and Halton Council.

It provides business, academia and Government with new opportunities for co-operation across a range of important fields of science and technology, including biomedical, energy, security, space, materials, climate and the environment.