£17m boost to create Lancaster Health Innovation Campus

LANCASHIRE’S Local Enterprise Partnership has assigned £17m from its £234m share of the Government’s Growth Fund to a project to create a health innovation campus.

The project, focused around Lancaster University, will look for solutions to the social and economic challenges posed by ageing. The campus will be created next to the university campus at Bailrigg.

An independent economic impact assessment has found that when the campus is fully operational it could create more than 2,000 jobs and have an annual economic impact of £99.8m.

The facility will focus on working with businesses and healthcare providers to make advances in technologies, products and services.
 
Its aims are to: capitalise on the research profile, collaborative strengths and business links of the University; provide research and development activities and raise the profile of Lancaster University; improve graduate retention in the area and also enhance the image and reputation of Lancaster, the region, the University and businesses.
 
Professor Andrew Atherton, deputy Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University, said: “The Lancaster Health Innovation Campus will build on Lancaster University’s already strong reputation for research into health and ageing.
 
“As more and more people are living longer, research into improving the lives of people as they become older has never been more important. This campus will significantly help us to bring about advances in technology and care programmes through research alongside healthcare and commercial partners that will enrich people’s lives.
 
“It is also a very significant investment that will contribute hugely to the regional economy.”
 
Features of the Health Innovation Campus include facilities to work on new technologies to improve assisted living and research into social care. There will also be space for a medical centre for research collaborations with the NHS and other health bodies and additional buildings and laboratories for relevant healthcare businesses to use.
 
Edwin Booth, chair of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership said: “The announcement of the creation of a new Health Innovation Park in Lancashire is tremendous news both for the local area and the county as a whole.  Lancashire has a long history of creating economic and social benefits from cutting-edge science and I am sure that this new campus will continue that tradition, as we look for ways to meet the challenges of an ageing society.”
 
Cllr Eileen Blamire, leader of Lancaster City Council, said: “This is excellent news for Lancaster and the long term vitality of the district’s economy. The health innovation campus is an exciting development of the original science park concept and will strengthen the district’s attractiveness for investors, further boosting economic growth and creating top quality jobs.”