Liverpool Innovation Park and Liverpool Science Park agree memorandum

Liverpool Innovation Park and Liverpool Science Park have announced the agreement of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations.  This sets out the distinct and complementary offer each organisation provides to knowledge-based companies looking to locate and grow in Liverpool. The agreement also outlines how each park intends to develop in the future. By eliminating any possible confusion in the market place about which of the sites is most appropriate for which type of companies, both home grown and inward investors, the agreement will enable both organisations to work more closely together and more effectively with public sector organisations, in securing high value jobs for Liverpool’s growing knowledge economy without duplicating effort.

Liverpool Innovation Park is focussed on the delivery of an open innovation campus ideal knowledge-based organisations requiring office, laboratory and workshop spaces primarily of 3,000 sqft or more. It aspires to be the preferred NW destination for growing organisations involved in knowledge-intensive research, development, & clean manufacture, including those graduating from Liverpool Science Park.

By contrast, the Science Park focuses on the delivery of primarily Knowledge Quarter-centred development & property services.  Its focus will be primarily on knowledge based SMEs requiring up to 5,000 sq ft office &/or lab space. This includes providing soft landing facilities for international companies and providing support for the business incubation activities of stakeholder universities.

One of the authors of the document, Mark Tock of Liverpool Innovation Park said “Maximising the benefit Liverpool derives from its world-class knowledge base by allowing space for local talent to grow alongside investors attracted from further afield is crucial. It would be a travesty if that offer was undermined by a lack of clarity about the respective offers of the two parks.”  Co-Author Chris Musson of Liverpool Science Park, based on the steps of the Metropolitan cathedral, commented “Whilst we are two distinct organisations, our offers are almost totally complementary, with only a small overlap.  Ever since I took up post here, I have sensed that there has been confusion in the market place about the nature of our organisations.  It simply seemed sensible for us to make it clear how our offers fitted together.”