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Twenty Years of Innovative Success

The University of Warwick Science Park celebrates twenty years of success.

Officially opened by the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher twenty years ago this week, the University of Warwick Science Park is celebrating two decades of growth and achievement.



Propelled by spiraling unemployment figures in Coventry and Warwickshire, the Science Park was established by the City Council, University of Warwick, Warwickshire County and West Midlands Enterprise board to create long-term technology led employment opportunities. The plan has succeeded brilliantly with over 2,000 jobs created with more being added continuously.

David Rowe, the Park's Director since its inception explains, "The creation of the Park was a leap of faith but has demonstrated that the region can develop high value, innovative career opportunities. It has help stem the hemorrhage of jobs we've suffered from the more traditional sectors such as manufacturing. This could not have happened without the vision of the founders and the dedication of the Park's staff who have been innovative in developing increasingly effective ways of stimulating new high growth business start ups and supporting their early development."

The growth of the Park has been such that the original site, close to the University, has expanded and been augmented by the development of satellite Innovation Centres at Binley, Warwick, and Blythe Valley, Solihull.

An early 1980's survey indicated that there were only about 40 technology led businesses in the area. Today, studies show there are around 1000. The Park is home to over 130 of them and a very high proportion of the remainder has interacted with the Park through its property and business support programmes.

David adds, "Our third decade is already off to a flying start with the commissioning next month of Riley Court a 40,000 sq ft designed to take the growth of companies as they expand from 15 to 50 staff. It's a physical reaffirmation of belief in the area's development as a growth node for knowledge based businesses in the UK."

26/02/2004