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Archive for the ‘Science and Technology’ Category

North West Science and Technology has led to many cutting edge scientific breakthroughs, such as Britain’s first aeroplane, the birth of the first test tube baby, splitting the atom, and the world’s first computer. Science and Technology is continuing to develop rapidly in this region, and many global brands, ranging from medical research to military aircraft have significant research and design facilities in the North West. Over 25% of the region’s £106 billion economy comes from Science and Technology companies.

1. North West universities play a key role in Science and Technology, and have a combined turnover of over £1.2 billion, almost 1% of the region’s total economy. Leading companies, including those in the Aerospace Business, automotive supply and manufacturing companies, nuclear energy and medical research are closely linked to North West universities. More than 50,000 North West students graduate every year, including 25,000 with life science degrees. Over 69,000 science students are trained every year.

2. The Aerospace Business in the North West has a turnover of £6 billion, and is responsible for producing military and commercial aircraft and components which are used both in the UK and exported worldwide. Extensive R&D programmes ensure that the latest technologies are available to create the most advanced planes in the world. Countries all over the world rely on the North West Aerospace Business for their military and commercial aircraft requirements

3. The Chemistry Industry plays a vital role in the North West, and sales of chemicals contribute over £10 billion to the economy, equating to approximately 20% of the UK chemistry industry. Approximately 220,000 people are employed in this sector. In 2005, the Department of Trade and Industry announced that as part of the Technology Programme, one of the 19 new Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs) would be in Chemistry in the North West. KTNs help to share knowledge and research between businesses, academic institutions such as universities, and trade associations.

4. The North West and Cumbria in particular, is widely acknowledged as the centre of the UK Nuclear Energy industry, and is home to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. The research and development work done in this region has led the Government to conclude that utilising nuclear energy is part of a viable solution to meeting the energy needs of the UK.

5. There are over 50 research institutes, many of them multi-institutional, as well as traditional R&D departments. The North West is home to the Research and Development departments of several of the worlds leading companies, and business R&D investment in this region is greater than in any other part of the world except Asia. Recent reports show that 4 of the top 10 companies by R&D spending have significant facilities in the North West. Pharmaceutical development, including the largest cancer drug research centre in the UK, Aerospace Businesses, manufacturers of consumer products, as well as the Chemistry Industry and Nuclear Energy are well represented in the North West.

6. The North West’s seven science parks are home to many knowledge-based companies in diverse industries ranging from providing education to Nuclear Energy and decommissioning. Strong links to universities as well as research institutes and centres of knowledge, in the UK and abroad, help to ensure that Science and Technology in the North West is second to none.

7. Dedicated Strategic Science and Technology sites have been set up throughout the North West, and Manchester is aiming to become one of the UK’s first six Science Cities by 2015.

Manchester Science Park is internationally recognised as a centre of excellence, and is one of the most successful of its kind. Tenants include specialists in healthcare, telecoms, and digital media.

The Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus, near Warrington in Cheshire, is home to leading companies in diverse industries ranging from healthcare research to business support services. The nearby Daresbury Laboratory is one of the best-resourced science facilities in the UK.

Liverpool Science Park, right in the centre of Liverpool, is the fastest growing science park in the UK, and contains computer games, website design and software companies as well as solicitors specialising in intellectual property and technology law. Speke, also in Liverpool, is home to the National Biomanufacturing Centre, which is set to become the leading biopaharmaceutical design centre in Europe, and helps to create and develop new medicines

West Cumbria Science Park, near Whitehaven, has over 60 companies on site, ranging from ecology to engineering, many of which are involved in the Nuclear Energy Industry.

A Science Park in Lancaster is scheduled for development this year, and will be located close to the top-ten ranked university. This exciting new project will combine the renowned academic knowledge and resources of the University with local businesses know-how and the Lancaster Environment Centre.

8. With Manchester recently voted the most creative city in the UK, and Liverpool’s reputation as one of the leading cities for computer game design, the North West is at the forefront of new technologies as well as traditional Science and Technology. The use of ICT in education, website design and internet technologies, TV and film production, as well as other media industries, is all flourishing in the region, thanks to Science and Technology.

9. As well as looking to the future, the region’s scientific history is preserved through museums such as the World Museum in Liverpool, Quarry Bank Mill in Styal, Cheshire, and Wigan Pier. Visual displays as well as hands-on activities, demonstrations and different media show how Science and Technology has changed our lives, from mechanising everyday tasks to revolutionising manufacturing methods.

10. As well as the outstanding Science and Technology facilities, the North West is a popular business location thanks to its fantastic infrastructure. Within reach of 3 international airports, and a great motorway system, the North West is closer than you may think. In addition, the North West has many Areas of Natural Outstanding Beauty and the standard of living is high.

There has never been a better time to see how North West Science and Technology can help you.

Sir William Bragg, the eminent physicist, once stated, “The important thing in science is not so much to obtain new facts as to discover new ways of thinking about them.” The profundity and truthfulness of this statement seems nowhere more relevant than in the National Science Museum in London – one of the country’s most loved historical institutions. As part of the National Museum of Science and Industry, the Science Museum is more than a tourist attraction for London’s many visitors: it preserves some of the world’s most impressive scientific artefacts, while constantly showcasing new talent and the latest in scientific innovations from across the globe.

The Science Museum first opened in 1857 from the collection of the Royal Society of Arts, as well as surplus items from the Great Exhibition of 1851 to promote the achievements of science and technology. Initially created as part of the South Kensington Museum, the museum went through several incarnations before being officially titled the Science Museum in 1885.

Today, the Science Museum holds over 300,000 exhibits. Its most famous items include Stevenson’s Rocket, an early steam locomotive built by George Stevenson in 1829, James Watson’s model of DNA and Charles Babbage’s Difference engine, a special-purpose mechanical digital calculator. The Museum itself is made up of a series of permanent and temporary galleries, including ‘Space’, a historical gallery that tells the story of human space exploration, ‘Flight’, which contains a number of aeroplanes and helicopters, and ‘Making the Modern World’, a new gallery which houses some of the museums’ most iconic collections.

Since December 2001, the museum has been free to all visitors, and is therefore a popular attraction for families in Britain. In fact, the Science Museum also organises “Science Night” – described as an “all-night extravaganza with a scientific twist”. On these evenings, up to 380 children aged between 8 and 11 are allowed to spend an evening in the museum performing enjoyable, science-based activities before being allowed to spend the night among the exhibits. In the morning, the participating children can awake to breakfast in the museum, more scientific-based fun and an IMAX film – an altogether unforgettable scientific experience!

But the Science Museum doesn’t simply provide a place for children to learn and play amongst some of the world’s most important scientific developments: it also opens up forums for controversial scientific debate. The Dana Centre, a groundbreaking urban bar and café, was opened in 2003 in an annex to the Museum, and is currently the UK’s only dedicated scientific discussion venue for adults.

As an integral part of the National Museum of Science and Industry (which includes York’s National Railway Museum and the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Bradford), the Science Museum plays a crucial part in the scientific education of much of Britain’s population.

If you’re hoping to visit the Science Museum, you’re sure to find a range of London hotels located in South Kensington through a variety of online travel sites. So choose to spend a day – or a night – in the Science Museum, not just because it provides fun for children and adults alike but because, as an institution of scientific progress and learning, it’s virtually unparalleled.

Vitale Caturano’s Life Sciene Industry Expertise Explained:

The life sciences industry—a core business sector of the New England economy—is growing at an unprecedented rate. In today’s complex market environment, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical devices companies face an ever-evolving set of risks and challenges—including mergers and acquisitions, worldwide efforts to control health care costs, and regulatory compliance—all with increasing scrutiny from internal and external constituents.

Vitale Caturano’s Life Science Consulting practice helps life sciences companies respond to the challenges of an increasingly complex market. Our life sciences professionals can help your company put the right controls in place to assure compliance and measure and manage the risks that matter most to your business. We provide biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical devices companies with a full range of business advisory, audit and tax services—including Sarbanes-Oxley, risk management, internal audit, and M&A—all tailored to industry requirements. We also offer comprehensive technology consulting services to help growing companies close the resource gap and connect IT performance to business results.





Vitale Caturano’s Technology Expertise Explained:

As they navigate an increasingly complex global economy, today’s technology firms are faced with a host of business challenges. Gaining access to capital, increasing time to market and managing stakeholder and market expectations is just the beginning. Mergers and acquisitions—the new reality, as competitive players look to expand their capabilities—bring new operational and organizational pains.

To remain competitive, successful companies need to solve these business issues in order to achieve long-term strategic objectives—and develop the technologies that will define tomorrow’s industry.

As New England’s largest regional full-service CPA, business advisory, wealth management, and technology consulting firm, Vitale Caturano has helped more than 150 top technology firms solve their complex business issues and seize new opportunities. Our technology industry practice is led by specialists who work with leading software, hardware and telecommunications organizations to help them achieve their long-term strategic goals. We provide industry-focused business advisory, tax, Revenue Recognition Accounting, Audit assurance services including Sarbanes-Oxley, risk management, internal audit, mergers and acquisitions, and technology consulting—with the client focus and responsive service delivery that only a regional partner can provide. Whether you’re looking to manage risk, understand revenue recognition, maximize after tax returns, manage rapid growth, prepare for liquidity events, or improve technology to streamline operations—we have the depth of experience to help.