Renowned scientist and genetics expert Lord Robert Winston, visited the laboratory facilities at The EpiCentre in Haverhill on Thursday 24th April, to see the great steps being taken to bring bio-tech and life science businesses to the West Suffolk Town.
He was accompanied on the show-round by Centre Manager, Andrew Bell and West Suffolk Councillor Indy Wijenayaka, who is the council’s Portfolio Holder for Growth, as part of the very first Haverhill Science Festival Week promoted by Haverhill Town Council
Bell, said: “We were delighted that Lord Winston was able to spare the time to visit The EpiCentre and to meet some of our laboratory occupiers, including CodiKoat and BravelyCultured, whose groundbreaking research is leading to incredible life science breakthroughs.”
The primary aims of the festival that ran from 23-27th April was to promote the study of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics in schools; boost the educational aspirations of local students in Haverhill and promote training opportunities in high-tech industry. The organisers wanted to highlight to investors and researchers in the Cambridge sub-region why Haverhill is an ideal base to set-up science and technology businesses. “The EpiCentre, being an innovation centre, is helping and thus continuing the stream of education and development opportunities locally,” added Bell.
Cllr Wijenayaka, said: “The EpiCentre is a shining example of the pro-active steps that are being taken to drive Haverhill forward into the future. The EpiCentre provides an invaluable incubator for start-ups and small companies that allows them to grow and have that infrastructure that normally they wouldn’t have access to.
“We hope that the visit can showcase that a career in science can be achieved by anyone, as seen with the diverse range of companies and people working here, and also highlight to the future scientists of Haverhill and the wider West Suffolk that they can have a career right here in Haverhil,” added Cllr Wijenayaka.
The show-round was followed by a reception at The EpiCentre for invited guests to see the laboratory and office space facilities that are available as well as the business support offered by the centre management company Oxford Innovation Space.
And in the evening The EpiCentre hosted a seminar in association with “Space East” with guest speaker – Stuart Catchpole, Space Cluster Manager for “Space East”, entitled “What Can Space East Do for You”. The organisation aims to bring together innovative people from business and academia to share knowledge, expertise and capabilities to explore exciting opportunities and establish the Eastern Region as a leading player in the UK space sector.
The primary aims of the festival that ran from 23-27th April was to promote the study of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics in schools; boost the educational aspirations of local students in Haverhill and promote training opportunities in high-tech industry. The organisers want to highlight to investors and researchers in the Cambridge sub-region why Haverhill is an ideal base to set-up science and technology businesses.
add a focus of linking the education objectives of the Haverhill Science Festival with the EpiCentre being an Innovation Centre and thus continuing the stream of education and development opportunities locally. It might be the last para is brought forward.
