A vibrant community of world class science, engineering and technology companies

North East Technology Park

2 North East Technology Park

On 23rd July 2004, the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, officially opened the NETPark Research Institute. Since that time, NETPark has experienced much success and is recognised as a nationally important innovation asset.

Now NETPark is one of the UK’s premier science, engineering and technology parks for the commercialisation of cutting edge R&D from major international organisations, universities and entrepreneurs.

We are home to numerous companies providing hundreds of highly skilled jobs here in Sedgefield, County Durham providing ambitious companies with a dynamic and supportive environment to help accelerate their growth into global markets – facilitating collaborative multidisciplinary links, driving innovation, enterprise and economic prosperity.

We are a destination where world class science and technology companies and individuals come together to produce products and services with global impact.

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What we didn’t realise before we made the move was how hard the Business Durham team works to help your company. It’s like joining a club – everyone supports you and the company, you meet great people and get many opportunities to showcase your technologies. It says something about a place when you can get introduced to NASA’s Senior Medical Advisor, investors and the head of R&D at Tata Steel!

Richard Kirk, PolyPhotonix

The NETPark story

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6 NETPark Explorer

NETPark provides science, engineering and technology companies with world-class laboratory, clean room and office space. We have over 43,000 sq. ft of dedicated incubation space in NETPark Plexus and 7,400 sq. ft of additional incubation space in the new Discovery iZone helping to accelerate the success of knowledge based companies into global markets.

Growing businesses will find no shortage of room to grow on the park with NETPark Discovery 1 & 2 providing a combined 40,000 sq. ft of space and our most recent addition NETPark Explorer 1 & 2 offering grow-on spaces for graduating incubation companies and established businesses ranging from 3,500 to 5,000 sq.ft finished to client requirements.

For those companies looking to develop bespoke premises we have 26 acres of land available for development for businesses that need larger spaces to prototype, scale up and manufacture on site.

We also have The North East Satellite Applications Catapult based at NETPark helping organisations to solve problems and open up opportunities using satellite data and technology.

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NETPark is a prestigious science park and it ticks a lot of boxes for us. We wanted to expand somewhere close to Bowburn and when we saw the units available at NETPark we thought it would work very well for both lab and office space. There is also the opportunity to expand further as required.

Roy Valentine, CEO of High Force Research

Locate here

8 NETPark Management Team

Becoming a tenant at NETPark offers a lot more than just physical space. You become part of a total support environment. You will receive on-site account management delivered by NETPark manager Janet Todd, providing dedicated business support to help high-tech, high growth companies achieve their full potential by connecting them to people and partner organisations with funds, expertise and facilities throughout their journey.

Some of the areas of support we have made directly or through our partners

Access to university test facilities and consultancy

Graduate and intern recruitment schemes

Project collaboration opportunities

Grant application advice and alerts

Connecting with collaborative networks

Investment readiness and private finance raising

Intellectual property advice

R&D tax credits

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Innovation Support

The facilities are excellent and Business Durham has been fabulous, very helpful. It’s also extremely beneficial to have CPI on our doorstep based at NETPark too. CPI has given us a tremendous amount of support, with such a huge range of equipment and being on the same site makes for effective collaborative working.

Andrew Wragg, chief executive officer at G20

Janet Todd, NETPark Manager

A vibrant community of world class science and technology companies

10 Cleanroom at CPI’s National Printable Electronics Centre

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CPI uses applied knowledge in science and engineering combined with state of the art development facilities to enable companies to develop, prove, prototype and scale up the next generation of products and processes.

CPI work with its partners to develop products and processes that enhance health and well-being, protect and improve our environment and increase productivity across industries. In doing so, CPI supports the development of next-generation manufacturing organisations which require highly skilled jobs, and will result in sustained economic growth for the UK.

CPI’s partners operate across diverse markets including healthcare, food and agriculture, FMCG, electronics, energy, transportation and construction. CPI is able to support such a broad range of industries through their unique innovation process, together with diverse and expanding platform technologies.

Overall, the combination of CPI’s innovation process and outstanding scientific expertise enables their partners to get more products to market faster, and at a lower overall cost.

CPI

CPI has been located at NETPark for over a decade and is now home to three of our national innovation centres. We have seen NETPark grow into a thriving hub for technology development and we are delighted to be a part of this community.

Nigel Parry, CPI CEO

12 Durham University’s Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI)

Durham University’s partnership with NETPark was cemented when the University’s Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI) became one of the first tenants to move into NETPark in October 2004. CfAI is one of the major research groups in Durham University’s Physics Department and has an international reputation for the development, design and construction of state-of-the art instruments for optical and infrared astronomy.

Since 2004 Durham University has worked in partnership with NETPark, and in 2008 signed an MoU (along with CPI) to support the ongoing development of NETPark and stating their key interests in developing NETPark as a world class location for knowledge based businesses.

The University has recently introduced drop-in sessions at NETPark, offering NETPark businesses the opportunity to explore the ways they can engage with the University and how we can help them to achieve the results they want. These include student internship/placement/project opportunities, and access to academic expertise, research commercialisation and innovation, facilities and equipment.

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Durham University has a long-standing and successful partnership with NETPark which spans more than 15 years. NETPark brings a number of benefits to the North East of England and further afield, and provides excellent space to bring together our research expertise with industry and partners.

Dr Tim Hammond, Director of Commercialisation & Economic Development at Durham University

Durham University

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NETPark connectivity Air and Rail

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County Durham’s air, rail and road infrastructure ensure excellent access across the County, providing links to the rest of the UK, Europe and the USA. The closest airports are Newcastle International and Teesside International Airport. Numerous daily flights to Heathrow, Dubai, Paris and Amsterdam connect with transatlantic and worldwide destinations. High speed trains run frequently between London and Edinburgh stopping at Durham, and several more Cross Country and Northern Rail services stop at Durham daily. Travel time to Durham by rail is less than 3 hours from London and only 2 hours from Edinburgh. The A1M and A19 provide the main north-south routes to the rest of the UK and commute times are among the lowest in the UK.

County Durham is an excellent launch pad to the EU and the UK as a whole is in a time zone well-positioned to do business with the rest of the world.

Easily accessible

The proximity to the universities and the infrastructure are very important factors. Ultimately having a presence in Europe is very valuable to us and we intend to stay at NETPark for many years to come.

Dr Arnab Basu, Kromek CEO.

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From 2004, when the NETPark Research Institute became the first building to open at NETPark, we have grown to become a nationally important innovation asset and home to some of the world’s most innovative companies developing technologies which improve lives and solve problems across the world. Today, we are still growing alongside our talented tenants, home to over thirty companies providing over 450 jobs here in Sedgefield, County Durham.

Our NETPark Explorer and Discovery buildings provide a vital next step up for businesses, offering more space giving existing tenants the opportunity to grow onsite and new tenants to join us. We provide a clear growth path for businesses at NETPark so they don’t have to worry where they’re going to go next.

We provide so many benefits for the local economy, not least because many of the jobs we provide are for a highly-skilled workforce so we can keep our talent here in the North East providing opportunity and prosperity for many years to come.

For the future of NETPark, we’d like to see private investment and attract more businesses who want to create larger, bespoke facilities. We have the land and the right support in place to help companies locate and grow here. We’re here for the long term and we have the long-term vision to match.

Peter McDowell, Property Director

Afterword

NETPark Manager Janet Todd and the team provide invaluable support creating a vibrant community of world-class science, engineering and technology companies at the park.

We have an excellent relationship with the companies on the park from the initial enquiry to discussing the types of space needed through to fit out. Our connections are of huge benefits to growing companies, with a vast network of support we can help you navigate the business support landscape helping your company grow.

You will have access to our expert and experienced team at NETPark to help you with everything from accessing financing, collaboration opportunities and new markets to product and supply chain development.

Our role at Business Durham is to offer tailored advice and support helping companies flourish – whether tenants occupying incubation space in Plexus or in larger premises, such as Kromek – our supportive relationship will help facilitate your business growth.

Contact NETPark Manager Janet Todd about moving your business to NETPark

Janet.Todd@durham.gov.uk

(+44) 01740 625250

@janet-todd

Contact

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18 NETPark Phase 3 offering access to 26 acres of development land

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FIND OUT MORE:

(+44) 01740 625250 Call weekdays 8.30am – 5.00pm

enquiries@northeasttechnologypark.com northeasttechnologypark.com @NETParkUKnetpark