Norwich Research Park

Overview

Set in over 230 hectares of parkland, Norwich Research Park is a thriving business and research community located on the edge of Norwich next to the world-renowned University of East Anglia.

It brings together four independent world-leading research institutes; the John Innes Centre, the Quadram Institute, the Earlham Institute and The Sainsbury Laboratory, together with the University of East Anglia and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Around 12,000 people and more than 150 businesses are already working on the site. The Park has an exceptional range of offices and research facilities including laboratories, bio-imaging/repository, chemical and environmental analysis, clinical test trails facilities and genomics services.

Businesses and research organisations at the park include:

• The John Innes Centre, an international centre of excellence in plant science, genetics and microbiology
• The Quadram Institute has a vision to understand how the interaction of food and microbes in the gut affects human health.  It works closely with the food and pharmaceutical industries and other institutes on the Park and nationally.
• Earlham Institute, a research institute focused on exploring living systems by applying computational science and biotechnology to answer ambitious biological questions and generate enabling resources.
• The Sainsbury Laboratory, conducts world-leading scientific research into plant-microbe interactions, and plant and pathogen genomics.
• Tropic Biosciences, developing new strains of tropical crops to promote grower wellbeing, enhance consumer health, and improve sustainable environmental practices
• Colorifix, the company behind a revolutionary dyeing process to help the textile industry dramatically reduce its environmental impact
• Leaf Expression Systems, specialises in the expression & production of proteins, metabolites and complex natural products for research and #biomedical applications using a proprietary, transient expression technology, Hypertrans®

Norwich Research Park’s vision is to be recognised globally as leading research centre for life sciences, agri-tech, bio-tech, medi-tech, bioinformatics and food & health and features the work of a number of organisations that are already undertaking world-leading research in these sectors to provide real-life applications that will change the lives of people around the world.

From the soil to our health, Norwich Research Park’s vision is to change lives and rethink society through pioneering research and innovation, reframing the future of research.

Some of the biggest challenges we face include how we feed a growing population, prevent and treat chronic diseases and take our planet back from the brink of irreversible climate change. At Norwich Research Park we are building a community where people can discover the resolutions to many of these issues that will benefit both the health and welfare of the global population and the economic and employment prospects for Norwich and Norfolk. 

– David Parfrey: Exec Chair Norwich Research Park

Norwich Research Park: In the news:

Tropic Biosciences – The international banana crop is under threat from a highly contagious pathogen that could wipe out the global supply in the next decade. Thanks to the work of Tropic Biosciences, Norwich is now the biggest exporter of disease-free banana plants in the world. Find out why here:

Colorifix – Manufacturing and using artificial dyes can have a devastating impact on the environment. Colorifix has created a new technique for extracting natural dyes from plants and microorganisms and is developing new techniques for fixing the colours in a range of materials. Find out more here: 

HP3 – John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory launched a new initiative called Healthy Plants, Healthy People, Healthy Planet (HP3) to secure a safer, healthier and more sustainable future through the power of plant and microbial science. Find out more here:

Opportunity

Already home to scientists, researchers and businesses leading the way in health, biotech and agri-food, Norwich Research Park gives developers and businesses the chance to be part of one of Europe’s most important scientific business clusters.

The Research Park includes 25 hectares of Enterprise Zone which benefits from outline planning consent for B1(b), C2 & D1 (research and development, laboratories, high-tech and health care uses) together with ancillary and complementary uses which could include hotel, conference and leisure facilities, childcare nursery, cafés/restaurants and supporting business space.

Design and build opportunities are available within the Research Park’s outline planning permission. Occupiers can take advantage of Enterprise Zone status, which includes business rates discounts of up to £275,000 over a five-year period and fully resilient superfast broadband.

Employee Benefits:

On site nursery: Chestnut Nursery School, is the latest facility to be added to Norwich Research Park and contributes to the supportive environment on offer here for both organisations and their employees. The nursery offers 92 full day childcare places for ages 0-5 years. There are crèche facilities including a large secure outside play area and a holiday club for children up to 8 years.

Dining: The cafe space in the Norwich Research Park’s central hub ‘Centrum’ is an ideal location to meet and network with like minded businesses and organisations. The drop-in 140 seat cafe within the light and contemporary atrium offers a vibrant atmosphere to have an informal meeting, break for a coffee and cake or enjoy delicious hot and cold food from catering partners the Genuine Dining Company. Visitors to the cafe at Centrum can make use of free visitor parking and Wi-Fi.