By working closely with businesses, the universities aid innovation through knowledge transfer, which the report said increases the competitiveness of the economy.

NEW companies created either directly or indirectly by the universities need a place to start and grow, which is often not accommodated by commercial property markets and is the niche the science park is designed to fill.

Dr Tasker said: “The reason why young and knowledge-based companies don’t get on with commercial markets is they have particular needs in regards to their accommodation.

“They need a flexible approach because they grow very quickly. Some at the Liverpool Science Park have grown two or three times since they have been with us.

“A commercial landlord wants a blue-chip company with a 20-25 year lease and a trading history. Knowledge-based start-ups don’t have that history, some don’t even have audited accounts, and they don’t want to commit to a long lease.

“We provide a very specialist offer to these types of companies.”

To be in a position to open ic2 just three years after launching ic1 required ambition and foresight, characteristics which are not always possible within management structures such as that which governs the science park.

It is a not-for-profit company with three governing members. Liverpool City Council holds a 51% interest in the science park. Its contribution is described as “absolutely pivotal”. The remaining 49% is split equally between John Moores University and Liverpool University.

The science park also receives funding from Government Office North West and the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

“I managed to get the board, who aren’t experts in science park delivery, to go ahead with it before the first one was open,” said Dr Tasker.

“It’s difficult to deliver within a multi-agency framework.

“I can remember the meeting when we decided to go ahead with the plans. It was at a time when we weren’t even sure ic1 was going to open. But we wanted to get an innovative cluster in the middle of the city.”