First tenants for Menai Science Park announced
by Nicholas Fearn , November 27
The first technology companies that will be based at Menai Science Park have been announced ahead of its opening in North Wales next year.
A subsidiary of Bangor University, the £20 million complex will offer labourites, office space and business support to some of the region’s most promising tech firms.
Eleven companies have signed up to work from the Anglesey-based facility, covering industries such as advanced manufacturing, low-carbon innovation and ICT.
BBC Wales reported that this will represent a third of the building’s capacity, which exceeds its opening target of 15 per cent of occupancy.
Ambionics, which develops artificial limbs for children, is one of the businesses set to be based at the park. Caernarfon-based Geosho, which creates landcape-mapping technology, is another example.
Electronic audit specialist Papertrail and Bangor University spin-out Diagnostiq have signed agreements, too. The latter develops TB testing methods.
Ieuan Wyn Jones, director of the park, told BBC Wales: “It is a range of companies that are coming to the science park, and the key thing that drives them is their requirements to grow their business.
“They are based on science or technology but they have to be innovative and of course they’re in a range of sectors from environment, energy and IT.
“We’re looking at another company who are introducing new tests for TB in animals and people, so it’s quite innovative.”
Work on the park first began in November 2016. At the time, economy secretary 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.
He added: “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.”