Economy Secretary Cuts The Turf At Wales’ First Dedicated Science Park

Economy Secretary, Ken Skates is on Anglesey today to break the ground at Wales’ first dedicated Science Park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Menai Science Park ( M-SParc) is a £20m plus development within the boundaries of the Anglesey Enterprise Zone that is set to open its door is 2018. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The exciting and ambitious project, which will provide first class office and laboratory facilities for innovative businesses in the region is benefitting from £10.8m of Welsh Government funding and £10.2m from the European Development Fund. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The aim of M-SParc is to bring economic, scientific and technological benefits to the North Wales region and complement the substantial investment at Wylfa Newydd by supporting the wider supply chain. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Science Park will focus on the low carbon and renewable energy sectors, help to deepen academic and business partnerships and work to grow North Wales’ knowledge economy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Speaking ahead of the turf cutting ceremony, Ken Skates said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is great to see the progress being made at the Menai Science Park, which is being supported by over £20m of Welsh Government and EU funding. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Science Park is the first of its kind in Wales, and once up and running I am confident it will offer huge benefits to the North Wales region. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“M-SParc’s focus on low carbon and renewable energy sectors will complement the work already being undertaken by the Energy Island Initiative and the Anglesey Enterprise Zone and will help local businesses more widely to create jobs and achieve sustainable economic growth. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Its development has the potential to bring real economic benefits to Anglesey and the North Wales region more widely and I look forward to the Park opening its door in 2018. ” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Executive Director, Ieuan Wyn Jones said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It has taken a lot of hard work to get to this point, and we’re pleased to see the work beginning on site. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Behind the scenes, work has been ongoing to secure tenants, and we already have a number of companies signed up as Virtual Tenants. We are proud to be offering a range of business support services to these companies, most of who are already based in the region, and can state that the demand is there for a Science Park in the region.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​