Breaking new Ground: Science Park Construction under Way
On August 31, 2010, Jacobs University held a ground-breaking ceremony together with Bremen’s Senator for Economics and Ports to celebrate the start of the site development and construction work for a Science Park in the direct campus neighborhood. Four hectares, equipped with state-of-the-art buildings and infrastructure, will provide research and technology oriented companies with space for future establishment. The first construction project, a multi-purpose building with a combined area of 3.500 square meters for “Jacobs University Science & Technology Transfer”, is expected to be ready for occupancy in 2012.
August 31, 2010In addition to offering numerous opportunities for cooperation between Jacobs University and the newly established ventures, the Science Park is particularly intended to encourage the university’s scientists and alumni to market their research results by launching their own spin-off companies. The science and technology transfer center will be run by the Dutch Zernike Group, which has been successfully setting up and marketing science parks all over the world for about 20 years.
Joachim Treusch, President of Jacobs University, on the occasion of the site development kick-off ceremony: “Our students’ internationality, which is unique in Europe, and the innovative, transdisciplinary approach of our research make Jacobs University an ideal cooperation partner for the Science Park’s companies – as a think tank, a talent pool and a link to academic networks.”
Martin Günthner, Bremen’s Senator for Economics and Ports, too, appreciates the start of site development, which is expected to be complete in spring 2011, as the first important step towards the realization of the project. “The Science Park’s development provides the area with an attractive industrial real estate in an ideal location. Furthermore, it is a key investment to further promote the structural transformation of the Northern parts of Bremen,” Günthner states.
“This is a great opportunity for the Zernike Group, which gets involved in a very promising project as the leading investor. Based on our many years of experience with science parks we know exactly why we chose this specific environment: It is an ecosystem where the brightest minds from diverse cultures don’t limit themselves to studying and researching, but also want to put their findings into practice,” comments Lex de Lange, CEO of the Zernike Group, on the official kick-off of the Science Park’s development.
