The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Hi-tech lab at cutting edge of future jobs and wealth creation
Innovation Lab throws open its doors to entrepreneurs, engineers and inventors
A hi-tech laboratory has been created in Peterborough to develop the jobs and wealthcreating technologies of the future. The £300,000 Innovation Lab is available for use from today by entrepreneurs, engineers and inventors.
It will offer an array of cutting edge resources from virtual reality, drones, computer control systems to design and rapid prototyping equipment such as Computer Aided De- sign software, electronics design, hi-tech makingequipment, a range of 3D printers and a digital media lab.
Also available is space and tools for the construction of larger projects and access to full-time technicians and business advisers.
The lab is based in the Allia Future Business Centre, at the ABAXStadium, in London Road, andwill beavailable at a low cost.
It hasbeencreatedthrough Allia’s Serious Impact initiative with the help of funding from the European Regional DevelopmentFund, Opportunity Peterborough and Peterborough City Council.
Tim Jones, chief executive at Allia, said: “The Innovation Lab promises to be a remarkable resource for entrepreneurship.
“It will encourage and promote innovation to create the technologies that fuel tomorrow’s jobs and keep the city and region at the forefront of developments making positive impact on people and planet.
“Peterborough has a highly skilled engineering-based workforce, a commitment to using technology to improve the lives of its citizens, and an emerging entrepreneurial community. We felt this would be a region that would embracethefacilities that are on offer and use it as the basis to create some really innovative products and solutions.”
Steve Bowyer, chief executive of economicdevelopment company Opportunity Peterborough, said: “All too often business ideas and new startups can be stifled by lack of support or poor testing facilities, but here in Peterborough weofferourentrepreneursan invaluable network of expertise to help get their ideas off the ground and into markets.
“The range of equipment on offer in the new Lab is excellent and will only serve to supportandinspirecityentrepreneurstoinnovatefurther.”