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Overview:
The East of England is a dynamic environment with a unique mix of major
multinationals, new start-ups and university research facilities working in
closely networked clusters. Recognised as one of the most important technology
centres in the world, the region also has a well-established manufacturing base,
a large agriculture and food processing industry, a strong business and
financial services sector and a significant energy industry, with a growing
renewables sector.
It is the region’s unrivalled record of research, development and innovation,
led by expenditure on R&D that is three times the national average and the
largest per capita concentration of R&D engineers in the country, that underpins
its attraction. The top four UK companies by research spend – GlaxoSmithKline,
AstraZeneca, BAE Systems and BT – all have major R&D facilities in the East of
England.
There are seven universities, with the world-renowned University of Cambridge at
the eastern end of the ‘Oxford2Cambridge Arc’. The University has been placed
first in the world for science in a survey of 1,300 academics carried out by the
Times Higher Educational Supplement and ranked second in the world by Shanghai
Jiao Tong University.
“The UK has an excellent
reputation for scientific innovation, especially in the area of life sciences.”
Haruo Naito, president, Eisai
Key sectors:
life sciences, including biotechnology and
pharmaceuticals; ICT, software and advanced electronics; automotive, aerospace
and energy; and food production and processing. The service sector includes
financial and business services, film and media services and distribution.
R&D strengths:
aerospace, automotive, biotechnology, bioinformatics, biology, chemistry,
electronics, engineering, environmental, food, genomics, ICT, marine science,
medical devices, medicine, optoelectronics, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy,
software, telecommunications.
Major investors include:
3Com, Acambis, Accelrys, Adobe, Alcatel, Allied Bakeries,
Amgen, ARM, AstraZeneca, AVL, BAE Systems, Bernard Matthews, Biofocus, British
Aerospace, Broadcom Corporation, BT Labs, Cambridge Display Technologies, Canada
Life, CeNeS, C-MAC MicroTechnology, Conexant, Del Monte, Delphi, Discovery
Communications Inc, Eastman Kodak, Eisai, Ember Corporation, Epson, Ferrero,
FireDaemon Technologies, FlightSafety Boeing, Ford, Fujitsu, General Motors,
Genzyme Corporation, GlaxoSmithKline, Group Lotus, Hitachi, ICL, Incyte, Inion
Oy, Magna, Mandriva UK Ltd, MedImmune, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Microsoft, Nestlé
UK, Nestor Pharmaceuticals, Nissan, Nokia, Nortel, Olympus, Palm Group Pearl
Assurance, Perrier, Pi Technology, Plastic Logic, Premier Foods, Raytheon,
Sanyo, Seiko Epson, So Good, Sony, Sosei, Sun Microsystems, Symbian, Tata
Consultancy Services, Thomas Cook, Toshiba, Visteon Corporation, Widevine
Technologies, Xansa, Xenova, Yazaki.
Grants: For incoming
companies looking for grant aid, there are Tier 2 assisted areas at Luton and
South Bedfordshire (see map on Grants Information).
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