Member Article

Science City calls for North East backing of future city

Newcastle Science City urged local businesses to learn more about the role of science in the growth and future of the region this month, when it hosted an interactive debate exploring the importance of Newcastle becoming a smart ‘future city’.

Part of the British Science Festival’s programme of events, Newcastle Science City hosted the well-attended event which saw local businesses and members of the community take part in an insightful discussion.

The panel debate, which took place on Thursday 12th September, provided an opportunity to learn more about the role of Science Central, the UK’s biggest regeneration project based on the former Scottish and Newcastle brewery site, in making Newcastle a ‘future’ city.

Local business owner and entrepreneur Roland Glancy, joint founder of Heatwave UK Ltd, a company specialising in the design and manufacture of central heating efficiency products, supports the concept of Newcastle as a ‘future city.’

He said: “It’s vital that we create a scientific legacy for Newcastle to ensure the economic growth of the city and the inevitable social benefits that this will bring. We need to be able to compete nationally and internationally with other budding ‘future’ cities but to do that, we have to have the right infrastructure in place.”

The development at Science Central will do just that, by creating a new urban hub of state-of-the-art facilities to help start-up enterprises in the science and technology sector to grow and innovate. Alongside residential, leisure and retail facilities, it is also hoped that the site will attract inward investors from Europe and beyond.

The event was chaired by Professor Phil Taylor, Director of the Newcastle Institute for Research on Sustainability at Newcastle University, alongside a panel of experts from industry and academia.

Prof. Taylor explains: “There are many factors that need to be considered when developing a smart future city, which will inevitably provide commercial opportunities for business. Our debate gave attendees an insight into how these things can be delivered through Science Central, and what effect the site will have on improving economic and social prospects for the city.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Newcastle Science City .