The University of Portsmouth has purchased a purpose-built enterprise and innovation centre to support the growth of entrepreneurship and businesses in the region.
Portsmouth Technopole, a five-storey landmark building by the M275 city gateway, provides 20,000 sq ft of workspace for start-up and growing companies.
In addition to providing office space on flexible terms, the centre offers a range of practical innovation and growth support that encourages the development of start-ups, entrepreneurial and high-growth companies.
It also provides shared offices, virtual offices and hot desks. The Technopole currently accommodates 60 businesses supporting 230 jobs.
University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Graham Galbraith, said: “Universities have a major role to play in ensuring the future economic prosperity of the UK. The acquisition of this centre strongly aligns with our enterprise, innovation and business support activities.
“Portsmouth Technopole will increase the University’s contribution to the future prosperity and regeneration of the city and surrounding area through supporting the growth of new enterprises and job creation.
“The University is committed to helping entrepreneurs, innovators, investors and inventors start and develop ideas into successful businesses. We want to help companies in the city to start, grow and most importantly of all, stay in the city.”
The University will continue to run the innovation centre in the same way it has previously been used – in partnership with Oxford Innovation – the UK’s leading innovation centre operator.
Chris Allington, Managing Director for Oxford Innovation, said: “We are delighted about the new partnership with the University of Portsmouth and the opportunities presented to the Technopole during this next chapter of development.
“For the past 13 years the centre has been at the forefront of delivering flexible workspace for companies to flourish; this partnership will give a renewed focus on supporting high growth clusters, technology exploitation and creative industries.”
Portsmouth Technopole will build on the University’s existing portfolio of enterprise activity, which includes the Solent Growth Hub, the Future Solent Grants Programme and the development of Innovation Space and the Cell Block Studios.
It also supports the Small Business Charter silver award, which was recently awarded to the University in recognition of its skill, commitment and promise in helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
