UK Chancellor Pledges £30 Million for STFC Super-Computing Technology at Sci-Tech Daresbury

DARESBURY, England, February 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

The UK Chancellor of the Exchequer visited Sci-Tech Daresbury to announce a £30 million government investment into the world-leading Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) super-computing facilities at the site.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130207/594335 )

The funding will be used to support the progress of power efficient computing technologies and firmly establish the UK as the world leader in energy efficient supercomputer software development.

Some £19 million of the investment has been allocated to STFC's Hartree Centre at Daresbury Laboratory. Hartree is the world's largest software development centre and is home to the most powerful supercomputer in the UK. The remaining £11 million has been earmarked to develop technology capable of processing the huge amounts of data collected by SKA, the world's largest radio telescope.

Economy-boosting partnerships between research and industry are just some of the benefits poised to come from investment which was announced at Sci-Tech Daresbury, a national science and innovation campus situated between Liverpool and Manchester.

Speaking at the site, Mr Osborne said: "Britain is in a global race and we are in a position to lead the way in science and technology. Projects like the Daresbury development are crucial to boosting the economy and putting the UK at the forefront of the big data revolution."

Professor John Womersley, Chief Executive at STFC, said: "It is really encouraging that the government recognises the critical role that the relationship between science, innovation and industry plays in supporting economic growth in the UK.

"Here at Daresbury, which sits within the thriving and successful Sci-Tech Daresbury Enterprise Zone, we have world leading research, facilities and skills working with the smallest of SMEs to the largest, most impressive industrial names, that together will drive innovation and help rebalance the UK economy."

John Downes, Group Chief Executive of Langtree, said: "This funding will help to ensure that the STFC facilities based at Sci-Tech Daresbury remain at the very forefront of research and development - supporting the vision of the site's joint venture partners to further develop the site as a centre for scientific excellence and innovation. This will in turn act as a catalyst for future growth - highlighting Sci-Tech Daresbury's importance as a key economic asset for for the North West and, indeed, the UK."

Sci-Tech Daresbury is a private-public sector joint venture between property company Langtree, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and Halton Borough Council. The Universities of Lancaster, Liverpool and Manchester are all active partners on the site.

Regarded as one of Europe's leading centres for innovation and business, Sci-Tech Daresbury is a national science and innovation campus and flagship Enterprise Zone site, situated between Liverpool and Manchester.

Issued on behalf of Sci-Tech Daresbury by Paver Smith.

About Sci-Tech Daresbury

Sci-Tech Daresbury is a world class location for high-tech business and leading edge science based in Cheshire. It provides a unique environment for innovation and business growth, with knowledge sharing, collaboration and networking.

Home to the ground-breaking STFC Daresbury Laboratory and the Cockcroft Institute as well as over 100 high-tech companies, the site was originally established in 2006. In December 2010 a new private-public joint-venture partnership was created to spearhead the longer-term development of the Campus. Partners in the private-public joint-venture partnership are developers, Langtree, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), and Halton Borough Council.

Originally named Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus, the site's name was changed in July 2012 to reflect its new Enterprise Zone status, which was granted in April 2012. Enterprise Zone status allows business rates to be reinvested in the campus, potentially creating up to 15,000 skilled jobs and providing funding for new specialist office, laboratory and technical space. Enterprise Zone status will also allow the campus to leverage more than £150million in private sector investment.

SOURCE Sci-Tech Daresbury