BIOSCIENCES in the east of England are set to be given a major boost with the construction of new laboratory and office space in Cambridge. The East of England Development Agency, in partnership with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and Babraham Bioscience Technologies Ltd has agreed to contribute £2million towards the building of the new £7million Bioincubator.

BIOSCIENCES in the east of England are set to be given a major boost with the construction of new laboratory and office space in Cambridge.

The East of England Development Agency, in partnership with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and Babraham Bioscience Technologies Ltd has agreed to contribute £2million towards the building of the new £7million Bioincubator.

Work on the Meditrina building, named after the Roman goddess of medicine, on the Babraham Research Campus, is set to start in September. It will provide accommodation and business support for 10 to 14 companies at any one time when the facilities open in September 2007.

The Babraham Bioincubator, one of the first enterprise hubs in the region back in 2003, has operated at full capacity since 2001. Its Minerva building took its first tenant in September 2005.

Meditrina will provide 20,500sq ft of customised laboratory and office space with 18 units offering flexible accommodation to start-up and early stage bioventures.

David Marlow, chief executive of EEDA, said: “Bioscience is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the east of England economy which is bringing international recognition and investment to the region.”