Nexxus Scotland

Science and Technology Parks in Scotland 

City Science

For companies attracted by the benefits of a city centre location, City Science in Glasgow offers tailored property solutions.

The University of Strathclyde expansion on the site gives strong opportunities for closer commercialisation links to develop, a key point for companies looking to benefit from the advantages of being in close proximity to ongoing research.

Edinburgh Science Triangle 

Edinburgh Science Triangle is ranked in the world's top twenty science parks and was voted the most enterprising area in Scotland in 2007.  It offers a vital link between commercial business and academic research activity, providing access to knowledge and expertise, facilities and new technologies as they emerge. Companies based on the Science Parks are often in the best position to take advantage of such resources and opportunities, and some proactively develop collaborative R&D projects with universities.

Property options meet accommodation requirements ranging from new start-ups to large international research and development organisations. Excellent buildings in stunning locations can provide incubator facilities, flexible space in multi-occupancy buildings or dedicated buildings or strategic development sites for single organisations to achieve their bespoke requirements.

Seven different sites are all within 30 minutes of each other, the city centre, the airport and all of Edinburgh's acclaimed universities and research institutes.  Around 130 indigenous and international companies employ in excess of 3,000 staff already in these stunning rural locations surrounding Edinburgh, providing a work environment unmatched by any other and an enviable lifestyle choice of the best city living in the UK or Scotland's great countryside.

The seven science parks in the Edinburgh Science Triangle are:

• Alba Innovation Centre
• BioCampus
• Edinburgh BioQuarter
• Edinburgh Technopole
• Heriot-Watt Research Park
• Pentlands Science Park
• Roslin BioCentre

Nova Technology Park

Nova Technology Park, is Glasgow's newest Technology Park. It is located just 5 miles to the North East of the City centre and benefits from direct "diamond" motorway access to the M80 (Junction 2).  Furthermore the recently announced upgrading of the A80 to full motorway status will, upon completion, give Nova a continuous motorway connection with Stirling and Perth.  Nova can also benefit companies seeking to access the central belt (Edinburgh) in terms of staff and customer issues given its location (close proximity to J12, M8).

Nova is targeted at science and technology companies seeking a high quality edge of city centre location.  Nova will ultimately provide 66, 000sq m of accommodation over a 27 hectare site which will be landscaped to a high quality. Nova will provide a range of property options from small start up suites to large scale hi-technology production facilities.  Centralised facilities will be provided to give a focus and provide added value activities.  Nova will incorporate environmental sustainability as a core value in its development.

Nova is subject to an ongoing masterplan exercise to determine the optimum solution to serve the needs of science and technology companies.

Scottish Enterprise Technology Park

The Scottish Enterprise Technology Park (SETP) provides a dynamic environment for all types of technology companies, whether start-ups, global leaders or indigenous investors. Located in East Kilbride the SETP extends to 84 acres, with 24 buildings, 12 of which are owned by Scottish Enterprise with the remainder being privately owned. Following the site acquisition in 1994 from the National Engineering Laboratory, there has been seven private developments which are predominantly multi-occupied with one building (the Napier Building) completely occupied by TUV NEL, the largest occupier and employer on the site. The area developed on the SETP extends to 419,821sq.ft. with business units available from 101sq.ft. to 15,000sq.ft. There are approximately 90 companies on site, employing in excess of 1,200 people.   The SETP has a range of multi-occupancy and stand alone buildings which house approximately 100 companies ranging from SME's to large international companies working in the following sectors:- 

• advanced engineering and electronics
• environmental technology
• medical and pharmaceutical
• information technology and software development
• biotechnology
• business consultancy within the aforementioned sectors

some of which include:- National Engineering Laboratory (NEL) - a major tenant today providing services and solutions to clients in a variety of industries including oil and gas and pharmaceutical.  The Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre - a cluster of collaborative high-technology research laboratories, a consortium of Scottish Universities aiming to provide convenient access to a teaching and research facility. The areas of research include geochemistry, radiochemistry and isotope bio geosciences.   BRE Scotland - a leading centre of expertise for construction matters, providing research, consultancy, testing, expert witness and information services to customers worldwide.  

The SETP benefits from a broad range of facilities including a security controlled, high amenity, landscaped environment with flexible accommodation including multi-occupancy units, stand-alone buildings and development sites.   SETP also benefits from having a 220 seat auditorium/conference facility, exhibition suite and meeting rooms with state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment, available to both companies operating in and outside of the SETP.  

Technotots, one of the Parks tenants, is a nursery operator working in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council to provide care and education for pre-five children.  

Along with tenants benefiting from the facilities on the park they also have easy access to the neighbouring indoor shopping centre which is one of the biggest in Scotland and includes both a cinema and ice rink.

Strathclyde Business Park

Situated in 155 acres of stunning parkland, enormous care has been taken in creatively developing over 1.4 million square feet of business and lifestyle space. With a wide variety of on-site retail and leisure facilities supporting the highest quality of office accommodation, Strathclyde Business Park provides an ideal setting for businesses to thrive.

Established in 1990, from a budding 340,000 sq ft development the Park has successfully combined the highest quality of flexible office accommodation solutions with a unique working environment that engages, inspires, and serves the 6500 strong workforce.

The on-site facilities include two restaurants, convenience store, sandwich bar, 110 bed Hilton Hotel and Living Well Fitness Centre and Abbey National ATM, providing the ideal working and living environment for the Park's employees, clients and visitors.

West of Scotland Science Park

The West of Scotland Science Park (WSSP) is located on a 60 acre site, 4 miles north-west of Glasgow City Centre. Divided into two campuses; Kelvin Campus and Todd Campus, the WSSP aims to provide a location for the development of businesses focusing on emerging and future technologies. The WSSP is ideal for smaller "incubator" companies looking for support at hand to assist them in their early stages of research and development until they establish themselves into larger premises, however is also home to a number of world-renowned international companies.  

The WSSP provides a foundation for companies through the provision of an environment which offers accommodation of an appropriate standard for high level technology companies, provides easy access to the technical, business and leisure facilities of the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde as well as connecting business advisory services with tenants through Scottish Enterprise's specialist business growth account management team. The WSSP also offers on-site management and common services.  

Presently there is approximately 326,000sq.ft. of accommodation developed over 22 buildings at the WSSP. There are currently 28 technology companies operating from the Park, employing in excess of 900 people in the following sectors:-  

• medical and pharmaceutical
• advanced engineering and electronics
• biotechnology
• information technology and product/software development
• environmental technology

There is scope for business units to be custom designed or adapted to meet particular company needs at affordable rentals. Recent developments include the construction of the Venture Building on Kelvin Campus (completion date November 2010 - http://www.venturebuilding.co.uk/the-building.php ). The three-storey building extends to 31,500sq.ft. and incorporates a stunning full height atrium. It is designed to the highest environmental standards and on completion will have achieved a BREEAM "Excellent" as well as an "A" rated energy performance certificate. Flexibility has been a key design feature, not only enabling the space to be capable of accommodating a wide range of fit-outs; from laboratory to office, but also providing suites as small as 1,000sq.ft.