 Scottish business is headed for new heights thanks to a £89m mega innovation centre that is scheduled for construction in Glasgow. The centre will be stationed at Strathclyde University and is expected to bring together industrialists and academics as partners to engage in matters crucial to the Scottish business sector, such as pharmaceuticals and energy. City officials in consultation with the community, students and staff, have already submitted plans for the Technology and Innovation centre which is expected to generate an estimated 700 research jobs as well as support 850 existing jobs- an enormous boost to Scottish business. Plans for the innovation centre were submitted alongside those for a building on George Street to be known as the Scottish Enterprise's neighbouring industry engagement building, a five story construction that will cover approximately 4,800 sqm with enough space to host 500 occupants. All these developments have definitely opened up both direct and indirect opportunities for Scottish property developers. When the innovation centre is complete, it will act as a contact point between Scottish businesses and the immense research expertise of Strathclyde University. Perhaps it is the design of the centre that presents a perfect picture of what it will look like once complete; the floor space for instance will be equivalent to three football pitches, featuring a transparent design to give it a gateway status between the city centre and the merchant city. Commenting on the project, Prof Jim McDonald, the Strathclyde University principal, said the technology and Innovation centre will transform how universities collaborate with the Scottish business sector to give Scotland a global competitive edge. The centre is the university’s biggest in terms of research capability and has received massive funding from the Scottish Funding Council and Scottish Enterprise with Scottish Power, Weir Group and SSE as founding partners. If the plans submitted are given a go ahead then work on site begins in January 2012, with official launch slated for 2014. |