Sensor tech researchers come to Liverpool ahead of £15m Sensor City launch

Companies in Liverpool are being given an early opportunity to take part in a multi-million pound sensor tech project coming to Liverpool Science Park.

The £15m Sensor City project, which will see the opening of a new dedicated facility on Copperas Hill next year, has moved into the science park ahead of its official launch to allow firms to learn more about the development and speak to leading sensor tech researchers.

The Sensor City innovation centre will aim to stimulate the creation of 300 startup companies and 1,000 jobs over the next 10 years by supporting high-tech businesses working on sensor systems and applications.

Dr Joanne Phoenix, who has over 15 years’ experience in early stage business, will lead the Liverpool Science Park-based Sensor City team.

She commented: “The science park is a prime, central location from which to build the profile and activities of Sensor City and is on the doorstep of the new facility once it opens.

“We’ll be working to actively bring suitable companies into the network and it has been excellent to see such high levels of engagement from the local SME community and tenants within innovation centre 1 (ic1) with an interest in sensor technologies.”

Dr Phoenix added: “I look forward to further interactions with like-minded people who are all committed to bringing new exciting technologies to the market.”

Sensors are a key growth area outlined recently in the Liverpool City Region Growth Strategy, which aims to: “Establish the city region as the leading British city for sensor technology”.

Worldwide, the sensor industry is estimated to be worth as much as $490bn.

The science park and the upcoming Sensor City scheme are located within Liverpool’s expanding Knowledge Quarter, which is currently the focus of investment programmes worth over £1bn. Major developments in the area include the new £335m Royal Liverpool Hospital and consumer goods giant Unilever’s Materials Innovation Factory.

Sensor City represents a joint venture between the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University, and is one of four University Enterprise Zones in England. The development has been funded with a £5m capital investment from ERDF and BIS, £5m from the universities and industry co-investment.

Speaking further, Dr Phoenix said: “It’s an incredibly exciting time to be part of the growing Knowledge Quarter and we look forward to driving Liverpool’s status as a leading sensor city in the UK and beyond.”

Dr Phoenix will be based at the ic1 building, where she will work closely with Knowledge Quarter chief exec Colin Sinclair.

Liverpool Science Park’s chief executive, Chris Musson, commented: “Sensor City is one of a number of key initiatives in the Knowledge Quarter, which will lead to a step change in commercial activity in 2017. Its offer complements perfectly LSP’s own.

“We are delighted to help create an initial focal point and pipeline of companies for when Sensor City’s new facility opens in 2017, and we look forward to maintaining an ongoing relationship in the medium term as exciting and growing companies are spun out of Sensor City and are looking for growth space in the Knowledge Quarter.”

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