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The SparkTHE NEWSLETTER FOR DISCOVERY PARK SUMMER 2018

www.discovery-park.co.uk

Brightest sparks Big in Japan Supporting Sandwich

What’s inside...

KENT’S LEADING SCIENCE PARK

Discover who emerged the winner from the KM Bright Sparks Dragon’s Den.

Discovery Park hosts delegation from global pharmaceutical giant, Takeda.

Sandwich In Bloom to charity table tennis – it’s all about supporting our community.

INNOVATION STARTS RIGHT HEREGet the latest on our growing story

Discovery Park Ltd, Innovation House, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, CT13 9FF | sales@discovery-park.co.uk | 01304 614060 © Discovery Park Ltd. All rights reserved

EAST KENT SCIENCE JAMBOREE SPARKS A LOVE OF SCIENCEDiscovery Park brought together research companies, food experts and engineers to show the next generation how fun science can be.

East Kent Science Jamboree is one of a calendar of STEM related activities that take place at Discovery Park each year with 1,500 primary aged children from across Thanet and Dover visiting over the two days. For many it marked their first ever time visiting a science park; an experience that brings classroom lessons vividly to life, prompting a greater curiosity of the world around them. Pfizer, East Kent College, Canterbury Christ Church University and LGC were joined by some new supporters this year, including Kentish farms Chandler and Dunn with a workshop that combined fun facts on food with important messages on sustainably feeding a growing human population. Pfizer, Mylan and Discovery Park sponsored the event with The Royal Society of Chemistry which supported the event as part of their

Chemistry at Work programme. Kimberley Anderson, CSR and community manager at Discovery Park, said: “At Discovery Park, we don’t just work to make today a success. We’re always looking to tomorrow. Education is a vital part of that, with our aim always to spark a love of science to last a lifetime.

Schools across Thanet and Dover enjoyed a fantastic introduction to science delivered by businesses and organisations all linked by one aim – to inspire the next generation.”

A PROJECT SEEKING TO IMPROVE EARTHQUAKE PREDICTION WON THE KM BRIGHT SPARK AWARDS, HOSTED HERE AT DISCOVERY PARK.

Student duo Zubair Asim and Kevin John from Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, in Canterbury, won the annual science contest for schools. They impressed the judges with their idea of monitoring ambient radiation for warning signs that would help ensure emergency plans could be rolled into action. It was a project the Dragon’s Den style panel felt had massive potential.

The team won the £500 prize money, trophy, and a framed certificate – plus a bonus experience prize donated by Pfizer that will be tailored to the group. Organised by the KM Charity Team, the Bright Spark Awards contest was open to primary and secondary schools in Kent, Medway, and Bexley.

To find out more, including how to take part next year, visit www.KmCharityTeam.co.uk/BrightSpark Businesses interested in becoming a dragon at next year’s event should contact event organiser Maxine Tarquini of the KM Charity Team at mtarquini@thekmgroup.co.uk or call 0844 264 0291.

KM BRIGHT SPARKS 2018

Zubair said: “It feels amazing to come up with this idea and then to progress it massively into something that has massive potential for the future for earthquake detection.”

www.discovery-park.co.uk

WHAT HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF DISCOVERY PARK SO FAR?I have been really impressed by the vibrancy of the park. There is a strong desire to make the vision going forward a real success. I’m really excited by what the CEO is putting in place.

WHAT HAS IMPRESSED YOU?There is a real cross-sector ecosystem here. By bringing it together in creative ways, it will help to shape future plans and help to attract more exciting tenants.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE IN YOUR JOB AS CHAIRMAN?I believe that with my own personal experiences and network in the Life Sciences sector, we at Discovery Park can find more ways to attract Life Science and Technology companies.

WHAT ROLE CAN EXISTING TENANTS AND BUSINESSES PLAY?In terms of the strategy for the site, I really want tenants to share that vision and to engage with the delivery plan we will share in due course. Tenants here are at different stages of their development and therefore require different services and support. I hope we can bring and create new opportunities for them.

HOW WILL YOU MEASURE SUCCESS?My main aim is to help Mayer and his team deliver their exciting vision and plan over the coming years that will truly excite our stakeholders (local government included), provide local jobs and employment and help deliver fast growing and scalable companies that will flourish on Discovery Park and continue to make the site a success and flagship for UK plc.

WITH DR MARTINO PICARDO STEAMING

AHEADThe first steam and electricity has been generated at Kent Renewable Energy Ltd’s Combined Heat and Power plant (CHP) plant at Discovery Park.

This major milestone comes ahead of the launch of the £160m clean energy facility this Autumn. Once fully operational it will produce 27 megawatts of green electricity and supply 50,000 homes with energy.

Discover more about Discovery Park’s management team on our website, including a Q&A with Chief Operations Officer Mark Pettler, at www.discovery-park.co.uk

It’s been a busy start for Discovery Park’s new management team whose additional insight, experience and knowledge of the life science sector will be vital in driving forward the site’s future growth and development.

We caught up with Dr Martino Picardo, Chairman of the newly formed Board of Directors about work to date supporting CEO Mayer Schrieber in ensuring Discovery Park remains a global centre for life sciences and technology.

Q&A

DELEGATION HOSTED

Takeda’s Shonan iPark in Japan visited Discovery Park as part of a fact finding visit to the UK, exploring ways to share the best practices and business insight as well as future educational and cultural exchanges.

Dr Toshio Fujimoto, General Manager, Shonan iPark, said:

“We hope this trip will be the catalyst for a longer lasting relationship.”

Discovery Park Ltd, Innovation House, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, CT13 9FF | sales@discovery-park.co.uk | 01304 614060 © Discovery Park Ltd. All rights reserved

ARRIVALS AND EXPANSIONSIT’S BEEN AN EXCITING TIME FOR DISCOVERY PARK WITH A NUMBER OF NEW ARRIVALS, OFFICE MOVES AND EXPANSIONS TO REPORT.

Clinical Venture Services (CVS) are looking forward to future expansion if trails for a potentially life changing device for the management of high blood pressure prove successful. The start-up company, which joined Discovery Park last year, is carrying out a trial on behalf of medical device company ReCor Medical to test a new therapy using ultrasound to help lower blood pressure.Helen Reeve-Stoffer, owner of CVS and acting head of Clinical Affairs for ReCor Medical, said: “We are hoping that its success will mean we will be able to expand both our team, and our office space, at Discovery Park, in the near future.

Congratulations to A4P Consulting – one of our longest serving tenants – which has expanded on site to meet growing global demand for its expertise in outsourced bio-analysis and logistics. Richard Hucker, A4Ps Director for Regulated Bioanalysis, said: “Being on site at Discovery Park has made a huge difference to our business. It’s been our busiest year to date.” Centauri Therapeutics, Think Big Tech, Euroforest Ltd, MP Associates and Wavesearch have also enjoyed expansion success. Finally, a warm welcome to Discovery Park for Invicta Health Community Interest Company and Trinity Mirror Solutions South plus ebb solutions and ezoBord, which have started their journey with us in the Start Up Zone.

EAST KENT SCIENCE JAMBOREE SPARKS A LOVE OF SCIENCEDiscovery Park brought together research companies, food experts and engineers to show the next generation how fun science can be.

East Kent Science Jamboree is one of a calendar of STEM related activities that take place at Discovery Park each year with 1,500 primary aged children from across Thanet and Dover visiting over the two days. For many it marked their first ever time visiting a science park; an experience that brings classroom lessons vividly to life, prompting a greater curiosity of the world around them. Pfizer, East Kent College, Canterbury Christ Church University and LGC were joined by some new supporters this year, including Kentish farms Chandler and Dunn with a workshop that combined fun facts on food with important messages on sustainably feeding a growing human population. Pfizer, Mylan and Discovery Park sponsored the event with The Royal Society of Chemistry which supported the event as part of their

Chemistry at Work programme. Kimberley Anderson, CSR and community manager at Discovery Park, said: “At Discovery Park, we don’t just work to make today a success. We’re always looking to tomorrow. Education is a vital part of that, with our aim always to spark a love of science to last a lifetime.

Schools across Thanet and Dover enjoyed a fantastic introduction to science delivered by businesses and organisations all linked by one aim – to inspire the next generation.”

Want to discover more?Visit www.discovery-park.co.uk/news

The A4P Consulting Team

A PROJECT SEEKING TO IMPROVE EARTHQUAKE PREDICTION WON THE KM BRIGHT SPARK AWARDS, HOSTED HERE AT DISCOVERY PARK.

Student duo Zubair Asim and Kevin John from Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, in Canterbury, won the annual science contest for schools. They impressed the judges with their idea of monitoring ambient radiation for warning signs that would help ensure emergency plans could be rolled into action. It was a project the Dragon’s Den style panel felt had massive potential.

The team won the £500 prize money, trophy, and a framed certificate – plus a bonus experience prize donated by Pfizer that will be tailored to the group. Organised by the KM Charity Team, the Bright Spark Awards contest was open to primary and secondary schools in Kent, Medway, and Bexley.

To find out more, including how to take part next year, visit www.KmCharityTeam.co.uk/BrightSpark Businesses interested in becoming a dragon at next year’s event should contact event organiser Maxine Tarquini of the KM Charity Team at mtarquini@thekmgroup.co.uk or call 0844 264 0291.

KM BRIGHT SPARKS 2018

Turning six is the perfect excuse to celebrate the story so far and look ahead. In this issue we highlight the support given to us by our partners in Kent, highlight two businesses setting the pace for growth and update you on our latest arrivals and expansions.

DISCOVERY PARK A GROWING STORY

Zubair said: “It feels amazing to come up with this idea and then to progress it massively into something that has massive potential for the future for earthquake detection.”

CENTAURI THERAPEUTICS

A growing storyThis growing biotech company was established at Discovery Park in 2016 with a mission to find novel drugs and treatments in areas of high unmet medical need. Drugs that redirect your immune system to combat resistant bacterial infections and the most advanced forms of cancer are the key targets for research

Progressing to first clinical trialsCentauri has grown from around five scientists to a team of 15, recently expanding into Building 500, an iconic space for drug development. It comes at a critical time for the company with research progressing to the stage where clinical trials can begin.

Chris Pickford, Head of Research, Centauri Therapeutics, said:“The drugs we are developing at Centauri are in areas of high unmet medical need. People currently die because the drugs aren’t there to either cure the infection or remove the cancer. That is what motivates us as a team at Centauri.”

Discover more at www.centauritherapeutics.com

It’s been quite a journey but for Discovery Park the foundations laid since 2012 are just the start. Over the coming months we’ll reveal the full detail of an exciting vision to drive forward our success as a global centre for leading science research.

“We are working on a strategy and masterplan that will outline how we plan to further develop the site to facilitate collaboration and great science; a vision that will bring significant economic benefits and jobs to East Kent,” Mayer Schrieber, CEO Discovery Park.

The success over the past six years, going from circa 800 to 3,000+ staff and five companies to 150 with millions of pounds invested in office and refurbished laboratory space is just one aspect of the story. Partners including Kent County Council, Locate In Kent and Dover District Council have also played a key and vital role in the site’s success. “As part of our wider £35m investment in East Kent over

KRESTON REEVES

A collaborative storyKreston Reeves was one of only 12 tenants located here when they arrived in 2013 with an office with desk space for two. The company rapidly built up a rapport with science and business tenants on site, growing by 2015 to bigger space in The Gateway, an extended range of services and a 30 strong team.

Building business successThe company joined Discovery Park initially as a trial. It built its profile on site with breakfast seminars for tenants dealing with topical issues from cloud accounting to the budget. Seizing those opportunities to work with the range of companies on site has been a big part of its growth over the past five years.

Kerry Cairns, Chartered Accountant and Senior Manager at Kreston Reeves, said: “It’s been really exciting being here from day one, building the team from scratch to one that is now one of the fastest growing in the company.”

Discover more at www.krestonreeves.com

a four-year period we targeted investment of over £10m to Discovery Park businesses including Mylan and Genea Biomedx,” remembers Mark Dance, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Kent County Council. “This investment has acted as the catalyst for the wider success of this facility which now employs 3,000 people, many of them working on cutting edge technologies.” Tim Ingleton, Head of Inward Investment, Dover District Council, says the authority is keen to support Discovery Park in strengthening its global focus on life sciences and technology and building further links with Sandwich. “Discovery Park has a long and productive history in the local economy, sustaining local jobs and high-tech skills with a proud history as the birthplace of many significant pharmaceutical discoveries. We look forward to working with Discovery Park and its tenant companies on the next exciting chapter of growth.”

Bio-tech company focused on the discovery and development of novel molecules targeting life threatening diseases.

Leading accountancy and financial services firm located across London and the South East.

2012A new chapter as Discovery Park becomes

a multi-business science campus under new private ownership.

2015Opening of new industry liaison laboratory

by Canterbury Christ Church University linking academia and R&D on site.

2016Start of work on new on-site CHP

renewable energy plant.

2017Discovery Park passes 3,000 jobs

target. In 2012 the figure stood at around 800.

2018Launch of Kent Life Science fund,

part of Kent County Council’s commitment to the sector with

Discovery Park key to that success.

Staff from Discovery Park are used to running around for tenants on site, skills that were put to good use at the annual Sandwich 10K, in aid of The Sandwich Sports and Leisure Centre Trust.All the proceeds from this annual community fundraiser go towards future investment in improving facilities at the Sandwich Sports Centre, which is used both by the public and Sandwich Technical School. Sandwich Leisure Centre provides a wide range of facilities, including a gym and weights area, studios, spin classes, sports hall, all-weather football pitches, tennis and netball courts. Jade Whittaker, Reception Manager, Discovery Park was joined on the day by colleagues Molly Peet, Lisa O’Neil, Tyrone Austin and Kelly Davies. “We have a great team here at Discovery Park. It was really special to come together to support a place that

is so loved and popular with the local community,” she said. Kimberley Anderson, CSR and Community Manager, said: “It’s great to see Discovery Park staff getting so involved in supporting the community. The leisure centre is a much-needed asset for the town and Discovery Park wholeheartedly supports this sporting facility.” Mike Elmes, Trustee, Sandwich Leisure Centre, said: “We’re really pleased to have an enterprise like Discovery Park on-board for our annual charity run. We’re grateful for the donations their staff members will raise by taking part, which will go towards funding general upkeep and improvement in the Centre.”

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Congratulations to Joel Ruddock, Partnership Director with holiday firm Top Villas, winner of the Discovery Park charity table tennis tournament. The annual charity event, which involved tenants across the site, raised more than £320 for local charities.

DISCOVERING WHERE GOOD FOOD COMES FROMDiscovery Park linked up this summer with Kentish farmers Chandler and Dunn for a day of farming fun. The LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) Open Farm Sunday provides the public a unique chance to access more than 1,600 farms across the UK.

MARTHA TRUST PROM ON THE FARMThis lovely event for this amazing charity took place on 1 July in the fields of Solley’s Ice Cream Parlour in Ripple. Activities, including a charity auction, raised lots of money for a fantastic cause. Find out more about the charity’s work at www.marthatrust.org.uk

SANDWICH LOOKING BLOOMING BEAUTIFULWe are a sponsor of Sandwich in Bloom, helping to make the town look its best for the exciting calendar of events taking place over the summer and a great rehearsal for the Open Golf Championships in 2020. Get the latest on local events at www.sandwichevents.org.uk

GET COLLECTING FOR AGE CONCERNOur Big Bag drop with Age Concern will be launching soon. Bags will be available from reception areas at Discovery Park and the Age Concern shop in Cattle Market, Sandwich.

Businesses at Discovery Park will be out on the fairway at the Prince’s Golf Club on 13 September to compete in this annual charity event in aid of a number of local causes. Look out for the results on our website and social media.

UPCOMING DP GOLF CLASSIC

Sandwich in Bloom

Prom on the farm

Big Bag Drop