In timely resonance with the BBC's Made in Britain programme and its focus on innovation, multinational chemicals company Scott Bader launches Northamptonshire innovation centre.
Last night’s documentary Made in Britain, the second instalment in a three part series on BBC 2, made clear to the British public the importance of supporting innovation in the UK and nurturing the ability to add value at the creative end of the value chain.
One of the sectors highlighted during Evan Davis’s exploration of British enterprise, for its strength in innovation and its ability to bring long term contributions to the British economy through IP revenues, was the pharmaceuticals and chemicals industry.
In a timely announcement which coincided with this celebration of British strength in science based industries Scott Bader, the multinational chemical company has announced that it is creating a new innovation centre in Wollaston, Northamptonshire.
The centre, which will be co-located with Scott Bader’s own R&D headquarters, will focus on supporting start-up companies in the specialty chemicals, composites and coatings sectors.
The Scott Bader Innovation Centre will open on July 1 giving British entrepreneurs in the chemicals sector the chance to exploit the facilities and knowledge network of a £180m company employing 600 people globally. Twenty small firms are already signed up to use the shared laboratory space in Wollaston.
Scott Bader itself specialises in polyester resins, structural adhesives and polymers used by firms in the building, marine and chemical containment sectors.
Scott Bader has appointed Oxford Innovation, a leading operator of business and innovation centres, to manage its new establishment. Oxford Innovation already manages four centres in the East Midlands region – Wellingborough Innovation Centre and three centres in Nottinghamshire – which form part of a portfolio of 20 centres across the UK used by over 400 companies.
Group managing director of Scott Bader, Philip Bruce commented on yesterday’s launch saying: “Our reputation has been built on technology, innovation and service to our customers while working closely with the communities in which we operate. So we are delighted to announce the launch of Scott Bader Innovation Centre in partnership with Oxford Innovation, as part of our strategy to support the next generation of innovative chemicals companies and the development of future technologies.”
