An innovation centre at the Newcastle Helix science and business park has reached full capacity two years after opening.
The Catalyst has brought together a number of businesses and research specialists working in the data and health ageing sectors. It opened in January 2020, just before the start of the pandemic, but has attracted a string of tenants despite the move to home working.
This month, the last remaining office space was taken up by GlycanAge, a life science company that was already using The Catalyst’s coworking facilities, but wanted to upgrade to a larger, fixed office space. It is one of 30 businesses now based at the centre.
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Rebecca Robinson, centre manager at The Catalyst, said: “We’re so thrilled to see our fantastic building reach full occupancy and proud of the speed at which we have attracted businesses to take up residence, considering the challenges of the last two years. It’s a testament to the impressive facilities, our centre team and the wider Newcastle Helix community.”
The Catalyst is home to the UK’s National Innovation Centre for Ageing and the National Innovation Centre for Data, both of which are hosted and funded by Newcastle University in partnership with the Government. Spread over five floors, the building has a TED Talk-style theatre, a corporate boardroom, exhibition space, meeting rooms and a multi-use workshop space.
Barry Hodgson, director of strategy at the National Innovation centre for Data, said: “Businesses locate in The Catalyst to benefit from the ecosystem we are creating around data, and it’s really exciting to see the growth in collaborative engagements and the increasing opportunities available for student talent.”
Prof Patrick Bonnett, vice chair of the UK Science Park Association, said: “The Catalyst is a fantastic asset – for the national and regional innovation ecosystem, and for Newcastle as a city. That we have achieved full occupancy so fast is further evidence of the flourishing innovation community developing here on the Helix Innovation Quarter.”
