The Start of Groundwork Celebrated

Representatives from Goodman, Unilever, EEDA, Cranfield School of Management, the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Manufacturing and IFR Extra celebrate the start of groundwork on The Exchange - a new
enterprise hub at Colworth Science Park, which is being developed by Unilever and leading research and business space provider Goodman. Contractor Kier is carrying out the construction work and the development is
expected to be completed in January 2011. The development will support economic growth in Bedfordshire and the UK by bringing together academia, SMEs and other life science companies to drive technology
transfer. This has been made possible following the investment of £13.7 million from the Goodman:Unilever joint venture and the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) with £4.4m of funding. EEDA’s support
will enable IFR Extra, Cranfield University and the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Manufacturing (IfM) to establish a presence at Colworth Science Park. The groups will be based alongside one of Unilever’s global
research centres and over 17 small and medium size enterprises in a variety of fields which undertake cutting-edge research, prototyping and product development. Dr Sally Ann Forsyth, Director of Colworth
Science Park said: “This scheme has been in development for some time and represents a substantial investment by Goodman, Unilever and EEDA. Having already attracted three world-class academic institutions to locate amongst leading scientists, from blue chip and start-up companies, we are confident that The Exchange will act as a catalyst for attracting additional businesses to Colworth and lead to new jobs for the area.”