The Minister took a tour of the new facility and met some of the early tenant companies as well as local businesses which have supplied products for the construction of the ‘environmentally excellent rated’ building and other member companies of Cambridge Cleantech.
Accompanying the Minister was Cambridge MP Julian Huppert, who cut the ribbon to launch Cambridge Cleantech two years ago and who comments: “This innovative building is an excellent example of how sustainable materials can be used to their full advantage to maximise energy efficiency. This cost effective solution combined with the support for start-up businesses makes this a centre which should prove a model for future buildings both in this country and internationally and promote Cambridge.”
Cambridge Cleantech, which will be based in the new incubator, is working to develop the Cambridge area as Europe’s leading cleantech hub.
Nine million pounds has been spent on the new building, which will be at the heart of the cleantech wave of Silicon Fen, supplementing the earlier ICT and Life Science waves of the last decades.
Martin Garratt, CEO of Cambridge Cleantech, says: “we are looking forward to being a tenant at the new cleantech incubator where we will be amongst our own community of cleantech start-ups. We will be supporting the cleantech companies with ‘First Friday’ surgeries, specialists in residence and a cleantech events programme. We believe we are ahead of other European centres and can develop a globally recognised centre of excellence in Cleantech.”
The Future Business Centre has 35,000 sq ft for 50 start ups and is a ‘BREEAM Excellent’ (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) rated building which is naturally ventilated with a high thermal mass and using recycled concrete in the frame. The building uses a mixture of solar panels and thin solar films built into the roof and cladding to produce electricity and uses solar thermal water heating systems to reduce energy demands. With LED lighting throughout, an electric car charging point and a rooftop garden the centre is a showcase for sustainable building.
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