msp: UKSPA Outstanding Science Park Initiative Award Winner

An inward investment initiative based at Manchester Science Park was recognised at the United Kingdom Science Park Association’s (UKSPA) 25th Anniversary Gala Awards.

Manchester Science Parks (msp) was presented with the UKSPA Award for Outstanding Science Park Initiative as a result of its work with the Manchester International Innovation Centre (MIIC).

Based on Manchester Science Park, the MIIC is a soft landing facility for international, knowledge based businesses, where participating firms benefit from all the added value business development services available to msp’s permanent tenants, such as networking events, business advice and introductions, as well as specialised support from MIDAS, Manchester’s inward investment agency, and UKTI.

“To win the UKSPA award for Outstanding Science Park Initiative is an honour for everyone who has been involved in the project,” explained Justyna Dabrowska, msp’s Project Executive – International Co-operation, who manages the facility.

“The MIIC project has involved a number of different organisations and I would like to express my gratitude to the North West Development Agency (NWDA) and  Manchester City Council, who funded the Centre initially, and, of the course, the many international companies who chose Manchester as their business location.”

Since the MIIC opened in November 2005, 27 companies from 11 countries have soft landed in the facility, including 17 from Greater China.

Of those companies 16 subsequently remained in the Greater Manchester region with eight graduating to full msp tenancy after their initial 12 months at MIIC, positively impacting the regional economy by generating high productivity jobs in growing sectors..

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Picture caption: Pictured, l-r, John Lenahan, Compere at the award dinner, Justyna Dabrowska, msp’s Project Executive – International Co-operation, and Clive Drinkwater, Head of UKTI North West, who presented the award.