Cork Science Park
Cork to be location for Ireland's first Science Park
Ireland's first Science Park is to be developed on the western side of Cork city in what will be a major employment and economic fillip for the region.
A potential 5,900 jobs can be created in the Cork Science Innovation and Technology Park set to be developed on a circa 150 acre (60 hectares) site at Curraheen including lands owned by University College, Cork (UCC) and adjacent to Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) campus. When fully developed the Park could contribute circa €450 million per annum to the local and regional economy.
The project is being developed as a collaborative effort with all the State and Semi-state agencies engaged in economic development as well as the third and fourth level education sectors. The County Council is also keen to promote partnership with local landowners and developers to secure delivery of this strategic asset to benefit the region as a whole.
Internationally, Science Parks become strategic hubs for world class research, innovation and knowledge-driven technology enterprises which attract key researchers, entrepreneurs, innovators and investors. The site is unique in Ireland because of its proximity to the buildings and landholdings of two Third Level Institutions which have a significant track record in research and innovation. Locating the Science Park at Curraheen will facilitate inter-institutional connectivity and collaboration as well as promoting the "clustering" of enterprises from the beginning.
A high level implementation group including Cork County Council, UCC, CIT, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland has been constituted to roll out the project. Cork County Council has already committed to delivering a new road network linking Curraheen to CIT.
"This Science Park precisely embodies the idea of the "knowledge economy", the strategic economic path for the future. It builds on the outstanding reputation and achievements of University College Cork (UCC), Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and UCC's "stand alone" Tyndall National Institute and will open up further levels of world class research and development activity leading to international corporate investment," said County Manager, Martin Riordan.
Cork County Mayor, Cllr. Noel Harrington, said the Park will create a unique Irish environment for high level inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration. "The projected level of employment in world class research, innovation and knowledge- driven technology enterprises, is very significant and is concentrated on third and fourth level graduates, in the main."
There is enthusiastic support from key stakeholders for the plan. The President of UCC, Dr. Michael Murphy, said the proposed development was a wonderful opportunity for the city and the region. "This is a good news story for the greater Cork area and for Munster. The fact that so many agencies, not least the two Third Level institutions in Cork, UCC and CIT, will be co-operating on the project, gives it an added dimension and bodes well for the full implementation of the plan."
"I am delighted, too, that UCC will lead an initiative designed to foster and promote start-up and grow-on companies in close proximity to the University where a wide range of expertise is available. UCC has placed great emphasis in recent decades on developing its research capacity, and is consistently rated one of the leading research institutions in Ireland. The proposed UCC research facility at Curraheen is a further demonstration of the University's key role in ensuring that Ireland will become an important international research hub.. A Science Park within a short distance of UCC will serve to strengthen even further the close ties that exist already between the university and industry in Cork, particularly in the IT and Pharmachem sectors."
Dr. Brendan Murphy, President of CIT, said: "CIT strongly endorses the proposal for a Science Park at Curraheen. The Institute welcomes Cork County Council's foresight and initiative in bringing forward this very important project for the Cork region. This development will enable the region compete for and support R&D and knowledge based enterprises in the type of high quality environment which is the norm internationally. It will make a significant contribution to creating and retaining high value jobs for the well-educated workforce in the region."
Mr. Barry O'Leary, CEO IDA Ireland, welcoming the initiative and the collaboration demonstrated by all stakeholders, said: "IDA through its network of global offices is fully committed to supporting the international marketing of the Park. Research suggests that such Parks help as an engine for growth within a region. In addition, as in this instance, the combined location of overseas and Irish-owned companies at the Park will significantly aid the sharing of knowledge and innovation. This initiative further reinforces the message which Ireland has been sending to the international scientific community and to the global knowledge-based industries that this country is 'very much open for this type of business'. In 2008, 43% of all IDA supported projects into Ireland were in R&D, with planned investments totalling €420 million. This Cork Park will further support Ireland's value proposition to win further such projects into the future."
Later this month, Cork County Council will commence extensive public consultation before preparing proposals to amend the Local Area Plan to facilitate the project. With the appropriate management framework and funding commitments in place, the first stage of Cork Science Park, incorporating the construction of the new access road to CIT, the critical Hub building and the UCC research building, could be in place by early 2012.
For more information on relocating to or investing in Cork, email info@corkmarketingpartnership.ie or telephone +353 (0) 21 4317895.