£65m for ‘cutting edge’ research centres at Darebsury campus

Jul 15 2008 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

The Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus, which hopes to build the 4GLS - Picture: ANDREW TEEBAY (200)

TWO cutting-edge science centres are to be created at the Daresbury campus after the Government announced a £65m investment.

The funding by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) will see a world-lead-ing computer sciences centre and a research facility to develop de-tector systems at Daresbury.

It is the latest twist in a roller-coaster year for the campus, near Warrington. In January, high-tech science staff at the government-run Daresbury Laboratory were put on notice that two-thirds of them could lose their jobs.

After November’s comprehen-sive spending review, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) found an £80m shortfall in its finances that threatened Daresbury’s future.

But, earlier this month, STFC’s governing council met and agreed to make the campus one of its funding priorities.

Science and Innovation minis-ter Ian Pearson said: “The Gov-ernment is committed to develop-ing Daresbury as a major interna-tional centre of expertise in science and innovation. Today’s announcement is proof the future for the site is an exciting one. Computational science and en-gineering is now indispensable to the solution of complex problems in every sector. This ranges from traditional science and engineer-ing domains to such key areas as national security, public health and economic innovation.”

The centres will enable research to help understand and predict issues from climate change varia-bility to how cells interact in the body, and sensor development, for use in security systems and biomedical imaging.

They will be known as the Har- tree Centre (computer modelling) and Detector Systems Centre (sensor development), and also plan to work with the North West Regional Development Agency.

Mr Pearson added: “These centres will conduct world-class research but also act as an impor-tant national focal point for collaboration between academic research and industry.”

alanweston