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Lancaster University sets up innovation and investment facility with ERDF support

Lancaster University is creating a new centre to assist manufacturers across the North West , and to attract inward investment, with an overall investment of £11 million.

The Collaborative Technology Access Programme (CTAP) will include a purpose-built site offering businesses access to a range of high-tech equipment and facilities worth almost £7m.

The project is part-funded by £9.1 million from the European Regional Development Fund, the new CTAP centre will support SMEs and larger firms operating or investing in the region.

The university says the development is in response to growing demand from industry. The new facility is set to open in autumn 2015.

Professor Andrew Atherton, deputy vice-chancellor of Lancaster University, said: “A real barrier to innovation in the UK is the inability of fast-growing entrepreneurial businesses to access high-end specialist equipment.

“Access to the best manufacturing equipment is especially important for businesses in the North West, one of Britain’s manufacturing and engineering hubs.

“Without specialist equipment, businesses can suffer delays in product development and improvements, leading to lost opportunities for business growth and job creation.

“Lancaster University is creating CTAP to support high-value manufacturing using specialist imaging and analytical techniques that improve, product design and performance. This facility will help local businesses to grow and will attract new companies to Lancashire to tap into the highest quality equipment and facilities.”

The CTAP facility follows more than £450m of investment by the university over the last decade with a further £135m over the next three years.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .