Aberystwyth University to receive green light to become first project under new £2bn EU programmes

Tuesday 16 Dec 2014 @ 09:05
Welsh Government

Finance and Government Business Minister Jane Hutt yesterday announced that Aberystwyth University will be the first multi-million pound project to receive the green light through the new £2 billion EU funding programmes 2014-2020.

The Finance Minister yesterday visited Aberystwyth University’s Gogerddan Campus and met the Vice-Chancellor Professor April McMahon to announce £20m of EU investment through the European Regional Development Fund to help develop the Aberystwyth Innovation and Enterprise Campus (AIEC) at the University.

The project at the Gogerddan Campus, with an estimated value of more than £35m, will see the construction of a new state-of-the-art, internationally recognised facility to attract further research funding so that companies and researchers can undertake collaborative research projects to boost the bio-economy. The research is expected to generate innovative new products, services and spin-out companies in sustainable food, health, biotechnology and renewable energy.

The 2014-20 European programmes will support Welsh Government’s strategies for building a thriving economy and improving the lives of people in Wales. Further approved projects will be announced in due course.

Finance Minister said:

“I am delighted to announce this EU investment for Aberystwyth University, which marks a significant milestone being the first scheme to be awarded EU funds from the new EU programmes 2014-2020. These programmes will greatly benefit Wales, helping us to continue to achieve our goals of building a thriving and prosperous economy. We will utilise EU Funds to drive research and innovation, boost businesses, increase renewable energy and energy efficiency as well as support infrastructure, skills and help people into work.

“This first EU investment will help build a world-class facility to attract private and competitive research funding so that Wales can lead the way in developing new cutting edge technologies, products and services in the biosciences sector, which is vital for increasing jobs and growth in the knowledge economy of our nation.”

Initiatives planned for the AIEC include:

Centre for Food, Nutrition and Energy Security
Future Food Centre
Bio-refining Centre
Seed Biobank and Processing Facility
Interdisciplinary Centre for the Bioeconomy

Professor April McMahon, Aberystwyth University’s Vice-Chancellor, said:

“We are grateful for the substantial contribution of EU funds that, together with considerable support from BBSRC, and the University, will see the realisation of our ambitious plans for the Innovation and Enterprise Campus at Gogerddan. I am confident that the development will ensure that the University continues to deliver research with impact, provide a platform for working alongside industry in developing solutions for global problems, and bring much needed jobs and growth to West Wales.”

The project will work closely with the University’s Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Science (IBERS) where research is already underway to tackle global challenges such as food security, bioenergy and sustainability, and the impact of climate change. IBERS also leads the ground-breaking EU-backed BEACON Centre of Excellence for Biorefining, a £20 million partnership with Bangor and Swansea Universities, which develops sustainable products and services from plant-based sources.

The AEIC project is also backed with £12m from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). IBERS also receives around £10.5m strategic funding from BBSRC each year.

Channel website: http://gov.wales

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