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Plans for a new £89 million state-of-the-art technology and innovation centre to revolutionise the way universities, business and industry work together will ensure Scotland is at the world forefront of innovation in energy, pharmaceuticals and engineering, First Minister Alex Salmond said this week

The new Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC) at the University of Strathclyde will - in conjunction with Scottish Enterprise's new International Technology and Renewable Energy Zone (ITREZ) - create 700 new research jobs and support 850 existing jobs.

Mr Salmond said the centre will strengthen the University's reputation for research excellence and Scotland's position as a world leader in energy and innovation. The project has already secured industry partners including Scottish and Southern Energy, ScottishPower and the Weir Group. Discussions are underway with Mitsubishi, SELEX Galileo and Thales.

Mr Salmond said:

"The University of Strathclyde's Technology and Innovation Centre is transformational project for Glasgow, building on Scotland's great tradition of innovating new technologies and developments in fields including energy and engineering while creating and supporting hundreds of jobs. Through this collaboration, the aim is to double the scale of research programme investment in Scotland in areas key to economic growth by up to £150 million in five years.

"This pioneering £89 million project will strengthen the University's international reputation for research excellence by bringing together industry and academia to develop solutions to challenges in energy, renewable technologies, advanced engineering and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

"Scotland is recognised internationally for its immense contribution to shaping the modern world through innovation and research and the Scottish Government works with universities, research institutes and industry to ensure the country continues to be a competitive hotbed of ideas.

"And now, as an integral part of Scottish Enterprise's new International Technology and Renewable Energy Zone (ITREZ) which aims to establish Glasgow as a premier location for inward investment into world-leading technology and renewables research and development, we have the potential to deliver huge economic and social benefits, not only in Scotland but internationally.

"The TIC project proves again that our Universities, Scotland's Funding Council and Scotland's enterprise agencies and Scotland's industry are key drivers of innovation and competiveness in our energy sector and R&D support in Scotland.

"Today, I am delighted to be meeting the academics and industrialists who will drive this project forward - a project which was conceived by the Energy Advisory Board and which is being driven with the help of the University's Principal Professor Jim McDonald. I applaud their ambitious approach to creating benefits for the economy and the city. Together, they will cement Glasgow's reputation as a powerhouse for engineering, science and industry."

"This city and this country will engineer the technologies of the 21st century just as Glasgow once dominated marine engineering in the 19th century."

Supported by the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Funding Council, construction on the 22,000 sq m city centre complex in Glasgow will start towards the end of 2011, with the building fully operational by 2013.

Strathclyde Principal Professor Jim McDonald said:

"The Technology and Innovation Centre will help transform Glasgow and Scotland. By capitalising on our leading, industry-relevant research, TIC will attract millions of pounds of inward investment to the city, drive global businesses, create jobs, and support the development of our highly-qualified graduates and postgraduates.

"As a leading technological University, we are committed to sharing knowledge to address challenges that affect every area of society, including energy, health, manufacturing and economics. TIC will forge new levels of collaboration between researchers, the public and private sectors to accelerate the pace of research and development and deliver benefit to companies, the economy and Scotland."

The facility is an integral part of Scotland's new International Technology and Renewable Energy Zone (ITREZ), a Scottish Enterprise initiative which aims to establish Scotland as an internationally recognised location for research, development, design and engineering of offshore marine renewables and a range of associated enabling technologies.

Scottish Enterprise Chief Executive Lena Wilson said:

"Strathclyde's Technology Innovation Centre will be the cornerstone of Scotland's International Technology and Renewable Energy Zone (ITREZ). Our vision for ITREZ is to provide a breeding ground for ambitious companies to harness cutting-edge research, access the best people and develop the products which will shape the renewable energy industry of tomorrow.

"Glasgow has already claimed a place on the renewables map attracting energy heavyweights and pioneers in the offshore wind sector and we believe that by establishing this zone we will help reinforce Scotland's position as a location of choice for the rapidly expanding renewables industry."

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