22nd April 2005

Aston Science Park is to launch a business incubator designed to accommodate IT and communications companies, known as the iBIC. 

Part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, through Advantage West Midlands (AWM), the iBIC will provide approximately 20,000 sq ft of incubator space including reception, five meeting rooms, post-room and refreshment facilities, with networked telephony and high speed broadband internet access available to tenants.  

The project will try to address the continuing demand for high quality incubation space and associated services on the Science Park.  Located in the Holt Court development, the iBIC has the advantage of being located next to iCentrum, a regional ICT project aimed at helping SMEs to grow and compete with their bigger rivals in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector.   The presence of iCentrum will present significant opportunities for ICT tenants, who will benefit from their extensive facilities and resources.  In addition tenants will also have access to business development support and mentoring programmes provided by Aston Science Park’s business development team.

Chief Executive of Aston Science Park, Dr Derek Harris explained: “This is an exciting development for Aston Science Park and for Birmingham.  On the bigger stage, the iBIC will contribute towards the proposed Technology Park at Eastside.  The Science Park predominately nurtures incubation and early stage operations who, as their business planning horizons become firmer and they improve their covenant strength, require premises for longer term occupation." “The Technology Park and Science Park together will achieve a critical mass as a technology business community, enabling Eastside to become increasingly attractive to inward investment opportunities. At the other end of the scale the iBIC project will maintain the supply of incubation premises, increasing demand for headquarters premises on the Technology Park in the longer term,” he continued.    For further information contact: Charlotte Kerr, PR Executive Aston Science Park, 0121 260 6182 This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it