Incubator units provide hi tech work space

Feb 16 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal

NEW incubator business units opening today will provide space for nearly 200 workers as companies move into a science business park in County Durham.

The 2,250sq-metre building has been built alongside the business park’s first 1,600sq m incubator block after demand from hi tech businesses far outstripped supply.

The incubator block is the latest stage of the expansion plans for NetPark, where County Durham Development Company eventually wants to extend the facilities from 62 acres (25 hectares) to 22 acres (90 ha).

Catherine Johns, of CDDC, said: “We are more than doubling the space available. It’s a fantastic environment in which to work, with high quality offices and labs.

“The technology companies who want them work in quite strict environments, so they are expensive buildings to produce, which means the private sector never builds them – but there is a shortage of very high quality lab space.

“The universities spin out amazing technology companies and they create high value, high skilled jobs. They also attract people in from outside the region.”