New innovation hub to launch in Knowledge Quarter

Sciontec – the collaboration between LJMU and partners in the city - has revealed plans to open a new urban technology building within the Knowledge Quarter Liverpool innovation district. 

CENTRAL TECH will open on the former Sensor City site on 1 May as a global hub for innovation in health, life sciences, technology and digitalisation, utilising the ultrafast LCR Connect network. 

Each customer in the 27,000 sq ft facility can also tap into the Academic Support & Knowledge (ASK) initiative, which connects them to a specialist team or experts at LJMU or the University of Liverpool to support their work. 

CENTRAL TECH will join the growing Sciontec portfolio of innovation facilities, which already includes the three Liverpool Science Park innovation centres, iC1, iC2 and iC3, as well as serviced space offer Sciontec AI at The Spine and the planned HEMISPHERE One and Two labs developments at Paddington Village, Liverpool City Council’s flagship development site.

This landmark deal will mark an exciting transformation in the city’s innovation and technology infrastructure. We are confident that CENTRAL TECH will help to create high value jobs in health, science and technology and bring growth to the city region.

Professor Mark Power, Vice-Chancellor at Liverpool John Moores University and chair of Sciontec

Sciontec is the Knowledge Quarter Development Company owned by Liverpool John Moores University, the University of Liverpool, Liverpool City Council and Bruntwood SciTech, a triple helix partnership committed to growing the knowledge economy to drive inclusive growth.  

Professor Mark Power said: “Sciontec has worked closely with the Sensor City company and the key grant funders, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to bring this important facility back to life, with vital new investment. This landmark deal will mark an exciting transformation in the city’s innovation and technology infrastructure. We are confident that CENTRAL TECH will help to create high value jobs in health, science and technology and bring growth to the city region."

A superpower in health and life sciences innovation

Trish Wallace, Strategic Projects and People Manager of Sciontec, said: “Liverpool City Region is rapidly becoming a superpower in health and life sciences innovation, so we are pleased to announce our plans to reopen the building and invite anyone that would like to see the space for themselves to contact us.”

Councillor Nick Small, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Growth and Economy, said: “This announcement of new investment is fantastic news for the city’s Knowledge Quarter and a huge vote of confidence in our blossoming life sciences sector. This building will be an amazing facility and builds on the recent multi-million pound boost for our plans to continue the development of nearby Paddington Village. This kind of investment attracts high quality businesses and high skilled, well-paid jobs and I’ll be delighted to see CENTRAL TECH open its doors this autumn.”

Sciontec hopes to enjoy similar success to its takeover of Liverpool Science Park (LSP) in 2020, which has seen occupancy levels improve significantly and increased retained profits, with the three Science Park buildings now operating near to full capacity and more than £1m recently invested at LSP in a new entrance and other enhanced customer facilities.

Supporting economic growth

Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, said: “Liverpool has a growing global reputation for digital innovation and CENTRAL TECH has the opportunity to help us shift that dial even further, providing a unique, supportive environment where new ideas can flourish, centrally located in the heart of the city.”

Chris Oglesby, CEO of Bruntwood SciTech, said: “The acquisition of Sensor City marks a significant milestone in ours and Sciontec’s ongoing commitment to further enhancing innovation and growth within Knowledge Quarter Liverpool. CENTRAL TECH will serve as a dynamic hub for health, life sciences, technology and digitalisation, while continuing to drive high-value job creation and contributing to the economic growth in this vibrant region.”