This Is Tees Valley This Is Tees Valley - Issue 1 2020 | Page 37

The National Horizons Centre A UK centre of excellence for the bioscience industry T he National Horizons Centre (NHC) is Teesside University’s £22.3m state- of-the art, purpose-built bioscience facility offering research, education and collaboration for the bioscience industry. Opened in spring 2019, the NHC is designed to provide the full range of skills for the biosciences and foster breakthrough ideas through collaborative research and innovation, including the application of digital technologies to improve performance and productivity. Located in Central Park in Darlington, it sits at the heart of an ecosystem of life sciences excellence. Northern England has a firm and growing commitment to biological sciences with over £4bn of inward investment in the last five years. The region hosts two of the country’s four large-scale chemical clusters, almost all of the UK’s biofuel and bioenergy production capacity, strong food and drink and biologics manufacturing industries, two deep water ports and a diverse agricultural base. Innovation-led development and new tools and technologies are crucial if the UK is to capitalise on this growth potential – and so are the knowledge and skills to deploy them. This is why the NHC is a game- changer for the bioscience industry. The NHC offers state-of-the-art analytical and digital infrastructure supporting basic and applied research in the biosciences and across disciplinary boundaries, aligned to academic excellence and industry needs. Through a substantial research team, the NHC is completing research to characterise, understand and model complex interactions across biological systems. This includes disease pathway analysis, food technology, development of medical diagnostic devices, forensic archaeology and anthropology and work to provide improved biotechnology approaches. Work in partnership with the NHC Our approach is flexible and distinctive, offering: > research and evaluation > testing and lab-based experimental work > near-market research and development > technical support for specialist facilities and equipment > product design and product testing > needs analysis and problem solving Contact the NHC info@nationalhorizonscentre.org.uk or www.nationalhorizonscentre.org.uk for more information. The NHC and its pivotal role in tackling biosciences sector challenges has been made possible with financial support from the Tees Valley Combined Authority and the European Regional Development Fund. 37