A £50m building which aims to put Newcastle at the forefront of ageing and data innovation is now open.
The Catalyst has become the latest building to open its doors at the £350m Newcastle Helix scheme, as the home to the National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA), the National Innovation Centre for Data (NICD) and the NIHR Innovation Observatory.
The striking building hosts a suite of facilities and a range of office space.
Spread over five floors, the 100,000sqft centre will connect the brightest technologists with businesses, helping them to unlock the benefits of data science.
As well as offices and breakout spaces, it has meeting spaces including a TED Talk-style theatre and a Team Decision Theatre with interactive screens.
Professor Brian Walker, pro vice chancellor of research strategy and resources at Newcastle University, said: “We are excited to see staff now occupying the Catalyst as a bespoke building bringing together businesses, innovation experts, translational researchers and the public, all under one roof.
“Together, we will deliver economic growth and enable the UK to become a global leader in data and ageing-related innovation.”
The Catalyst is being managed by Oxford Innovation, the UK’s leading operator of innovation spaces which specialises in building business communities.
Oxford Innovation’s managing director Jo Stevens said: “We’re thrilled to be working with Newcastle University to launch what will be a magnificent facility for Newcastle and the UK, bolstering the city’s credentials as a leader, delivering meaningful and visible innovation in data and ageing.
“The centre is a fantastic opportunity and will encourage companies and organisations to collaborate, develop and build a broad range of new products which will focus on data and ageing.”
