WARWICKSHIRE MEANS BUSINESS

Warwickshire Innovation Centre celebrates 20 years as a home of pioneering technology

An award-winning centre has now been a pioneer in the world of business, design and technology for more than two decades.

The Warwick Innovation Centre first opened its doors in 1997 and has since helped to nurture cutting-edge businesses who are at the forefront of their industry.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of phase two of the site, which is a partnership between the University of Warwick Science Park (UWSP) and Warwickshire County Council - and the organisations that it supports continue to break new ground.

One of the most recent success stories from the centre is the groundbreaking 3D Technologies, which has developed a new type of motion-based measuring technology, enabling people to measure in completely new ways.

The company’s first product, Moasure ONE, is a handheld device which accurately measures volume, area, circumference, height, angle, level and more. Earlier this year it headed out to the CES exhibition in Las Vegas where it went head to head with 1,200 other start-up technology businesses from across the globe and was named the Hottest Start-Up by a panel of judges at the event.

The company, which started out in the Science Park’s Ignite incubator, has been supported in a range of ways by the University of Warwick Science Park over the past four-and-a-half years. It is now listed by Forbes as one of the 22 Technology Start-ups to Watch in 2019.

Alan Rock, the CEO and founder of 3D Technologies, said: “The Science Park has been a big support in terms of the flexibility of the office space they offer and, when potential clients or investors visit, this location provides the right impression.

“As well as that, we have received investment into the business through the Science Park’s Minerva angel investment programme and, through Business Ready, we were helped to successfully apply for an InnovateUK grant.”

Another burgeoning company at the Gallows Hill-based centre is IFS-mplsystems which last year took on new staff after seeing significant revenue growth.

The business was acquired by Swedish software company IFS last year after recognising that the innovative firm could strengthen its customer engagement and contact centre space offering.

IFS-mplsystems develops contact centre and self-service software, which uses AI to improve the speed and accuracy of resolving customer requests.

The Warwickshire Innovation Centre also plays home to industry leaders involved in ground- breaking work such as Arm, ZenZero, dSpace, European Business Solutions, Nimbus Maps and other pioneering organisations.

The University of Warwick Science Park has provided world-class and well-equipped spaces for knowledge and technology-based businesses to grow since 1982. It offers office and workshop space across four sites in Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull, including the Warwick Innovation Centre has a variety of unit sizes that are suitable for all stages of business development.

A variety of support services are also available including: Ignite coupled with incubation support; access to finance including the Minerva business angel network and professional market development services from Techmark; and the Business Ready programme, a support service for tech-based companies delivered in partnership with Warwickshire County Council and part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Jane Talbot, manager of the Warwick Innovation Centre, said: “This year is significant for us at the centre as it marks 20 years since its second phase opened for business, which is a fantastic milestone for us.

“But, as a whole, we have been open for more than two decades and continue to go from strength to strength - now offering 36,000 sq ft of space and world-class business support for our tenants.

“We have seen some of the biggest and brightest companies come through our doors and we are available to give assistance to creative minds across Coventry and Warwickshire.”

For further information about the University of Warwick Science Park and its support programmes visit www.warwicksciencepark.co.uk

 

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