From l to r: Professor Nigel Weatherill, Alison Mitchell, Greg Clark, Professor Janet Beer, Steve Rotheram
Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Greg Clark, officially opened Liverpool’s new centre for sensor technology development, Sensor City.
Sensor City, a landmark joint venture between the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University, brings together knowledge and experience in sensor technology and houses and supports high-tech businesses working on sensor systems and applications.
It is already home to a number of businesses, including health innovator, Chanua Health, Fatigue Management International (FMI), Aqua Running and UPLEC Industries.
Sensor City is expected to create 1,000 jobs in the region over the next decade, nurturing 300 start-up tech businesses. as well as foster industry – academic collaborations and stimulate business growth regionally, nationally and ultimately internationally.
Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said: “Sensor City is a brilliant example of our Industrial Strategy in action, a hub that will bring together the best academic minds and entrepreneurs with businesses, large and small, to explore opportunities and foster collaborations that will turn innovative ideas into scale-up businesses. I am delighted we have been able to support its creation with £5 million of funding.
“Our modern Industrial Strategy has an ambitious long-term vision for the UK. We are committed to building on our strengths as a country and delivering a high-skilled economy for the years ahead. Sensor City will help us deliver on this ambition and make a valuable contribution to this work, driving forward innovation.”
Professor Janet Beer, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, said: “Sensor City is an exciting example of industrial collaboration in action and has huge potential for the delivery of both regional and national prosperity. Bringing together the expertise of our two universities with the experience of the UK’s most forward-thinking sensor technology companies and the wonderful facilities here at Sensor City, we have the makings of something very special and exciting.”
Professor Nigel Weatherill DL, Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University, said: “This is a landmark day for the city of Liverpool. Sensor City embodies a truly pioneering partnership that will enable Liverpool to be a leading British city in addressing modern industrial challenges through sensor technology. It is testament to the significance of Sensor City that Dr Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, is launching the facility and he will see first-hand how sensor products developed here in Liverpool, are already breaking boundaries in healthcare, sports and gaming innovation.”
Alison Mitchell, Executive Director of Sensor City, said: “Since we moved into this iconic facility earlier this year, we’ve made great strides towards building a community of tech companies that are pushing the boundaries of IoT and sensor innovation.
“Our partnerships – both with academia and big business – are opening up access to world-leading knowledge, support and services. Together, we’re creating the skills base for emerging technologies in the North West, boosting jobs for the future and supporting our local community.”
Sensor City is one of four flagship University Enterprise Zones. Sensor City has received £5m of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and £5m from BEIS, as well as ongoing support from the university partners.
A great investment thanks to a strong partnership ethos and support from a range of funders including the institution’s own resources and the EU. Though Greg Clark claims that “Sensor City is a brilliant example of our Industrial Strategy in action”, the latter is rather recent and the gestation and development of this innovative project predates it significantly.