£77m boost for 21 projects from Regional Growth Fund

THE region’s car manufacturers, Bentley, Vauxhall and LandRover and pharmaceutical firms Redx, Novartis and AstraZeneca, are among more than 20 successful applicants in the third round of the Government’s Regional Growth Fund.

The projects will share £77m, with a view to creating or safeguarding 19,720 jobs over the next five years.  The Government hopes its support will unlock private sector investment of nearly £1.5bn over the next 10 years.

Sci-Tech Daresbury – the new name for the Daresburty Science and Innovation Campus – was one of the largest individual bidders and will receive £10m to boost its expansion plans.

Another major science-focused initiative could be created in Cheshire after pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca was awarded £5m to explore the potential of developing a BioScience cluster at its Alderley Park research and development site.

AZ wants to create a “unique hub for pharmaceutical innovation and biotech enterprise.  Ccompanies located on the site would have facilitated access to AstraZeneca’s state-of-the-art facilities, know-how and human capital.

Alderley Park project leader, Dr Chris Doherty, said: “We’re very excited about the potential of this initiative and the prospects for a dynamic science cluster in the North West.”

Business Secretary Vince Cable yesterday visited Redx, the Liverpool company launched just two years ago and which now employs more than 50 people.

The £4.7m grant from the latest round of RGF  will support the launch of a £10.8m research and development centre focused on anti-viral and anti-bacterial drugs.

The funding will enable the establishment of a new subsidiary, Redx Anti-Infectives, which will create 119 high value science jobs.

The RGF support will unlock £6.1m of new private investment brokered by Manchester-based Acceleris Corporate Finance and sourced from a combination of commercial partnering revenue and shareholder equity.
 
This is the second successful award for Redx having previously won RGF backing for the launch of its first spin out, Redx Oncology Ltd, a cancer research and development subsidiary which currently employs more than 50 people in Liverpool.
 
Redx Anti-Infectives will begin operations in April 2013.The new R&D venture will focus on developing drugs to combat resistance to antibiotics and new medicines to tackle viral infections.  These include developing anti-infective drugs tackling hard to treat infections, including the growing threat of drug resistant superbugs like MRSA, as well as conditions such as influenza, Hepatitis C and HIV.
 
Dr Neil Murray, chief executive of Redx Pharma, commented: “We are obviously delighted to receive a second RGF award and eagerly anticipate applying our approach to the critical area of anti-infectives.”

Dr Cable added: “The Regional Growth Fund is creating the long-term growth and jobs that Liverpool and the North West needs. Every project supports important local priorities and there is a good alignment with key sectors in our Industrial Strategy including automotive, aerospace and life sciences as illustrated here at Redx Pharma.

The full list of successful North West RGF bidders is:

S Cartwright & Sons, Altrincham – Programme to deliver an apprenticeship scheme, investment in new equipment and improvements in manufacturing facilities in van trailers and curtainsider trailers.

Bentley Motors, Crewe – No details disclosed.

General Motors UK (Vauxhall),  Ellesmere Port – Improving the energy efficiency of the facility, training new employees, and capital investment for tooling at supplier facilities.

Kilgour Metal Treatments, Bispham – To buy and renovate a derelict building and invest in advanced manufacturing technologies.

Erlson Precision Components, Skelmersdale  – For infrastructure improvements.

Jaguar Cars, Liverpool – Project to invest in capital equipment for the design, engineering and manufacture of vehicles.

NXP Semiconductors UK, Hazel Grove – Conducting research into the development of different semi-conductors.

Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics, Liverpool  – Infrastructure development.

Pentagon Chemicals, Merseyside – Purchasing and installing new equipment to extend manufacturing capacity of chemical products.

Eli Lilly and Company, Liverpool – No details provided

Unilever UK Central Resources, Liverpool – Developing an open access fully-integrated formulation centre at the University of Liverpool.

AstraZeneca, Alderley Edge – Constructing a pharmaceutical bioscience park.

Lakeland Arts Trust, Windermere – Project involving the preservation of an internationally significant collection of watercraft and the conservation of highly specialist / skilled trades.

Atlantic Container Line UK,  Liverpool – Project to centralise all back office staff in one location.

Computionics, Wigan – Project to bring to market an already developed new life safety system which offers reduced installation, energy usage, servicing, maintenance and repair costs.

Daresbury SIC, Warrington – Project to expand the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus (DSIC)

James Cropper plc, Burneside Cumbria – Establishing the process technology to install a biomass incinerator, and steam boiler.

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool – Establish a new Centre for Maternal and Child Health focussed on developing economies.

PMT industries, Bolton – Research & development investment to create innovative automated process technology for renewable energy large components.

Aircelle Limited, Burnley – Scheme for the aerospace supply chain involving premises construction, capital investment, and R&D.