UK - Norwich Research Park unveils its ambitious new vision looking ahead to 2030 and beyond

Norwich Research Park has recently unveiled its ambitious new vision looking ahead to 2030 and beyond. Norwich Research Park is home to a wealth of world-class research, its 3,000 scientists and clinicians work in some of the areas of greatest importance to society today, food and health. A unique mix that blends a major university teaching hospital with a leading university and internationally important Research Institutes. This mix provides an unbroken chain, each part aiding the progression of another, where the working community on the Park increases its knowledge of soil, plants, therapeutics and diagnostics, food, nutrition, health and healthy ageing, all underpinned by world-leading genomics.

Norwich Research Park is partnership between the University of East Anglia, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, The Biotechnical & Biological Sciences Research Council as part of United Kingdom Research & Innovation, The John Innes Foundation and four independent world-renowned research institutes – the John Innes Centre, the Quadram Institute, the Earlham Institute and The Sainsbury Laboratory. The Park is one of Europe’s largest concentrations of research, innovation, education and commercialisation in the food and health sector, with 80 businesses and 12,000 talented people located within its 1km radius.

As laid out in the vision, by 2030 Norwich Research Park will be an inspirational place to work; where the world will look, not only for answers to global challenges, but also to learn from its success at creating a true research and innovation community, where organisations and people flourish and grow, in an environment that breeds and nurtures creativity and wellbeing. Pioneering research, adventurous innovation, enterprising entrepreneurship and accelerated commercialisation will be at the heart of work carried out on the Park, but it will also engage with the community around it, providing learning opportunities, jobs and local growth.

David Parfrey, Executive Chair for Norwich Research Partners LLP, said: “This is an exciting day for us as we launch our new vision which will take us through the next decade and beyond. Our vision for Norwich Research Park is to change lives and rethink society through pioneering research and innovation, reframing the future of research and delivering regional growth.

“The collaborative research and business community here on the Park helps foster revolutionary discoveries and delivers high impact scientific research and technologies. The world is facing some huge challenges such as; food shortages, an ageing population and climate change. Norwich Research Park is playing a crucial role in finding solutions to these challenges.”

George Freeman, MP has given his support to the new vision, he, said: “I have long been a vocal advocate of the Norwich Research Park and its vast potential to become THE leading centre of science, technology and innovation in the East – and a significant pioneer internationally.

“That’s why I am delighted to be supporting the Research Park’s new vision and I look forward to seeing its growth over the coming years, and the opportunities that it will provide to generate jobs and support education in the local area, as well as to fund and invest in increasing numbers of commercial spin-out companies.”

Director of Earlham Institute Prof Neil Hall, added: "The Earlham Institute welcomes the new vision from Norwich Research Park and is delighted to be part of their development into a world-leading campus for bioscience research. For the businesses and the other institutions on Norwich Research Park to succeed, we need to advance the vibrant science cluster that will continue to attract the best and brightest to come to work and invest in our region. The ambition of the new vision reflects our own and we look forward to supporting the NRP-LLP in making an impact to the life sciences."

The vision is built around 6 key strategic ‘pillars’ with research at the core. The strategy to support the vision will be developed over the coming months culminating in a new business plan ready to be launched in winter 2018. The positive impact of Norwich Research Park’s new vision will help drive economic growth and bring benefits to society locally, across the UK and on a global scale.