Businesses will have the first opportunity to be part of a £15m sensor tech project launching at Liverpool Science Park.
Liverpool’s Sensor City project has moved into the city’s science park ahead of the opening of the new facility on Copperas Hill in 2017.
It means sensor tech businesses will be able to access leading researchers and expertise and learn more about Sensor City in the run up to the building completion.
As one of the world’s first sensor tech innovation centres, Sensor City will bring together knowledge and experience in sensor technology and house, support and establish high tech businesses working on sensor systems and applications.
It aims to create 300 start-up businesses and 1,000 jobs over the next decade as well as foster industry to academic collaborations.
With more than 15 years’ experience in early stage business creation and development, Dr Joanne Phoenix will be leading the Sensor City team at Liverpool Science Park.
She said: “The science park is a prime, central location from which to build the profile and activities of Sensor City and is on the doorstep of the new facility once it opens.
“We’ll be working to actively bring suitable companies into the network and it has been excellent to see such high levels of engagement from the local SME community and [existing] tenants with an interest in sensor technologies.
“I look forward to further interactions with like-minded people who are all committed to bringing new exciting technologies to the market.”
The chief executive of Liverpool City Council recently raised concerns that the Northern Powerhouse could suffer in the political post-Brexit landscape.
However sensors mark one of the key growth areas in the recently launched Liverpool City Region Growth Strategy which details ambitions to “establish the city region as the leading British city for sensor technology”.
Sensor City and Liverpool Science Park sit at the heart of the Liverpool’s rapidly growing Knowledge Quarter which is the focus of investment programmes worth more than £1bn with major developments such as the new £335m Royal Liverpool Hospital and Unilever’s Materials Innovation Factory well underway.
Dr Phoenix added: “It’s an incredibly exciting time to be part of the growing Knowledge Quarter and we look forward to driving Liverpool’s status as a leading sensor city in the UK and beyond.”
Chris Musson, chief executive of Liverpool Science Park said: “Sensor City is one of a number of key initiatives in the Knowledge Quarter, which will lead to a step change in commercial activity in 2017. Its offer complements perfectly LSP’s own.
“We are delighted to help create an initial focal point and pipeline of companies for when Sensor City’s new facility opens in 2017, and we look forward to maintaining an ongoing relationship in the medium term as exciting and growing companies are spun out of Sensor City and are looking for growth space in the Knowledge Quarter.”
In a bid to reduce costs and improve efficiencies Liverpool and Salford councils recently signed a joint contract with SAP to deliver a technology platform.