Budget 2011: £10m for Daresbury in science boost

THE National Science and Innovation Centre at Daresbury will share in £100m that has been set aside for new facilities across the UK.

In the Budget Chancellor George Osborne listed four research centres that will share the cash – which has come from this year’s extra bank levy – saying science was central to the country’s commercial future.

Daresbury, near Warrington, will benefit with £10m, along with the Babraham Research Campus in Cambridge, the Norwich Research Park for environmental and life sciences, and the International Space Innovation Centre at Harwell.

The move has been welcomed by the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) but it said it should be seen in the context of cuts unveiled by Mr Osborne last year.

In his October spending review Mr Osborne froze science spending over the next four years and made it clear that research councils, which distribute science funds, would have to absorb cuts of 41% to their capital expenditure.

Imran Khan, director at Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), said: “We welcome the Chancellor’s commitment to making the UK a world-leader for fields including advanced manufacturing and life sciences, funded out of revenue from the bank levy.

“The extra funding announced today could be a first step on the path to making science and engineering pivotal to growth. But labs across the country are going to be struggling to make ends meet following the budget cuts announced last year.”

The centre at Daresbury was launched by a partnership between the Science and Technology Facilities Council, the North West Development Agency, Halton Borough Council and the universities of Lancaster, Liverpool and Manchester.

It provides facilities to enable new and established businesses with a technology focus to develop their products and services. It is home to more than 80 businesses.