Business Minister Edwina Hart today announced a £6million funding boost to accelerate the development of the second phase of Cardiff University’s new state-of-the-art research campus.
The announcement coincided with the topping out of the £26million Hadyn Ellis Building by Education and Skills Minister Leighton Andrews. It marks a milestone in the development of the first phase of the new Maindy Park campus which will accommodate the European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute and the Neuroscience & Mental Health Research Institute.
The £6million from the Welsh Government will be match funded by Cardiff University and enable work to progress on the second phase to house a new Sustainable Places Research Institute and other high profile research activities.
Mrs Hart described the campus as an exciting development.
She said: “It supports our recently launched Science for Wales strategy that identified three priority areas – Life sciences and health; Low carbon, energy and environment; and Advanced engineering and materials – where we will build and develop our research and business capabilities.
“We know that a sound and vibrant scientific and technological base has substantial potential to boost the economy. This new campus will have the potential to play an extremely important role in doing just this while also increasing our research capability and international collaboration.”
A £50 million package to bring ‘star’ science professors to work and create networks of researchers in Wales as the centre piece of a drive to use science to boost the Welsh economy was announced at the launch of the Science for Wales strategy.
Speaking at the topping out ceremony Education and Skills Minister Leighton Andrews said: “Higher education institutions in Wales have a huge role to play in our strategic agenda for science. A strong and dynamic science base can benefit our economy, environment and our society.
“Across Wales we’re seeing examples of outstanding research, but I want to see our universities increase the amount of research income they generate. New campuses like the one being launched here today at Cardiff University are a fantastic example of what can be achieved for the benefit of learners, researchers and Wales as a whole.”
Professor Tim Wess, Cardiff University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Estates, said: “Our plans for a research-led campus at Maindy Park have received a double boost today. We are delighted that the Welsh Government has committed funding to the second phase of the campus, a new building allowing multi-disciplinary teams to conduct research around sustainability, high performance computing and the digital economy. We are extremely grateful to the Business Minister and the Education Minister for supporting our vision of a world-class research campus, tackling the major global challenges to people’s environment, health and well-being.
“This announcement comes as our building contractors, BAM, have topped out the first phase of Maindy Park, the Hadyn Ellis Building. This is a major step forward for the Building, which will house research into diseases that unfortunately many of us are familiar with, including cancer and degenerative brain disorders. We will open the Hadyn Ellis Building next year, and the Ministers’ announcement today will allow the second phase to follow swiftly afterwards.”