Plymouth to establish a Health Research, Education, Enterprise and Innovation Zone
A Memorandum of Understanding was recently signed, marking the commitment of University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, University of Plymouth, Plymouth Science Park and Plymouth City Council to create a Health, Research, Education, Enterprise and Innovation Zone in the north of Plymouth, based around the hospital and Science Park estate.
This agreement continues the work undertaken between the University and Hospital to strengthen our existing clinical academic partnership, and aims to bring world-class facilities for business, alongside academic and health research, development and education. The agreement also builds on the existing partnership between the Council and University to support economic development through the Science Park.
Over the coming months, the organisations will work together to create a shared vision for this new North Plymouth Zone, working with other local stakeholders.
Mark Hamilton, Chief Medical Officer for the Trust said “The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding is a key milestone in bringing together the clinical academic research and education in the City to benefit our local population. The Trust already has a strong record in Research, and recently the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) ran clinical trials with 33,374 patients being recruited from Trust. This ranks the Trust in second place nationally, just behind Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, based in London. Working with the University, Council and Science Park will enable us to further build our capacity for delivering cutting edge research and allow more local people access to clinical trials.
University of Plymouth Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard Davies says: “I am proud that our city already enjoys the broadest health education offer in the South West, encompassing excellence in medicine, dentistry, health professions and social care. This new partnership will expand that provision further and extend our research collaborations, to significantly benefit the health and wellbeing of people in our local community and wider region.”
Councillor Tudor Evans, Leader, Plymouth City Council said: “We are on the cusp of massive growth and development on a scale not seen in Plymouth since the post-war years. The regeneration of our city centre and £4.4 billion investment in HMNB Devonport Dockyard will unlock unparalleled opportunities for our residents and businesses.
But we need a healthy work force and there’s more we can do as a city to foster greater links with our health providers and the talent of health technology and research companies the north of the city. That’s why we are keen to be part of this vision for a major Health Research, Education, Enterprise and Innovation zone to make the most of the opportunities on the horizon.
If ever there was a time to work together to create the health infrastructure the city’s population needs, it is now”.
Dave Hockton, Chief Executive Officer for Plymouth Science Park said: “The strategic location of Plymouth Science Park, right next door to the University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust makes it an ideal setting to unite our institutions, driving forward health research and education for the benefit of the city and beyond. This signing of the MOU with our stakeholders is the first step towards this exciting vision of working collaboratively to create a world class Healthcare Research & Development and Teaching and Learning centre of excellence”.
