Discovery Parks opens new facility at UVic
Discovery Parks opened its newest facility
today on the UVic campus. The private Canadian company develops land and
buildings to house firms engaged in scientific research and development
and high technology manufacturing.
The 30,000 square foot Technology Enterprise Facility I (TEF I) has wet-lab capability and fibre-optic data connections which fully meet the needs of both information technology and biotechnology firms. The flexible design allows this facility to accommodate the changing requirements of existing tenants as well as meet the needs of new start-up companies. The building was financed through a mortgage and existing Discovery Parks equity.
“Not only does TEF I create a perfect environment for private sector research firms, it is also meeting a need from researchers who are funded by the public sector,” says Mark Betteridge, CEO of Discovery Parks. “The idea is that research begins in the universities and over time is commercialized into the private sector. Buildings such as TEF I help facilitate that process.”
Ida Chong, MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head, says on behalf of Rick Thorpe, minister of competition science and enterprise, “Premier Gordon Campbell made a New Era commitment to make British Columbia a global magnet for high-tech investment, and one of the top 10 centres for research and development in the world. The opening of the new Discovery Parks facility at the University of Victoria is one more step in achieving our goal.”
“The addition of the Discovery Parks technology transfer facility to the UVic campus will help our researchers translate the results of their research into practical applications sooner,” says UVic President Dr. David Turpin. “DP provides the infrastructure for start-up companies to further develop innovations for the economic and social benefit of British Columbia.”
Advanced education minister Shirley Bond says this collaboration between public and private sectors in British Columbia is key to increasing training and job opportunities for students. “Creating entrepreneurial partnerships at our post-secondary institutions will make it possible for students to take their skills from the classroom to relevant positions in the job market.”
Discovery Parks is the operating arm of the Discovery Foundation, a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization supporting high-tech research and development in B.C. The foundation was established by the provincial government in 1979. Discovery Parks has developed 21 buildings, many of them on B.C.’s post-secondary campuses, that provide 1.5 million square feet of space. They accommodate over 40 companies which employ more than 3,500 people.
The 30,000 square foot Technology Enterprise Facility I (TEF I) has wet-lab capability and fibre-optic data connections which fully meet the needs of both information technology and biotechnology firms. The flexible design allows this facility to accommodate the changing requirements of existing tenants as well as meet the needs of new start-up companies. The building was financed through a mortgage and existing Discovery Parks equity.
“Not only does TEF I create a perfect environment for private sector research firms, it is also meeting a need from researchers who are funded by the public sector,” says Mark Betteridge, CEO of Discovery Parks. “The idea is that research begins in the universities and over time is commercialized into the private sector. Buildings such as TEF I help facilitate that process.”
Ida Chong, MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head, says on behalf of Rick Thorpe, minister of competition science and enterprise, “Premier Gordon Campbell made a New Era commitment to make British Columbia a global magnet for high-tech investment, and one of the top 10 centres for research and development in the world. The opening of the new Discovery Parks facility at the University of Victoria is one more step in achieving our goal.”
“The addition of the Discovery Parks technology transfer facility to the UVic campus will help our researchers translate the results of their research into practical applications sooner,” says UVic President Dr. David Turpin. “DP provides the infrastructure for start-up companies to further develop innovations for the economic and social benefit of British Columbia.”
Advanced education minister Shirley Bond says this collaboration between public and private sectors in British Columbia is key to increasing training and job opportunities for students. “Creating entrepreneurial partnerships at our post-secondary institutions will make it possible for students to take their skills from the classroom to relevant positions in the job market.”
Discovery Parks is the operating arm of the Discovery Foundation, a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization supporting high-tech research and development in B.C. The foundation was established by the provincial government in 1979. Discovery Parks has developed 21 buildings, many of them on B.C.’s post-secondary campuses, that provide 1.5 million square feet of space. They accommodate over 40 companies which employ more than 3,500 people.
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