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Thames Valley Economic Partnership
100 Longwater Avenue
GreenPark
Reading
Berkshire
RG2 6GP
Tel: 0118 945 0040
Fax: 0118 945 0037
Email
View map
100 Longwater Avenue
GreenPark
Reading
Berkshire
RG2 6GP
Tel: 0118 945 0040
Fax: 0118 945 0037
View map
Created by Jon Davey
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Vodafone, BMW, GlaxoSmithKline, Dell, Cisco, Microsoft, Syngenta
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A report commissioned by the Thames Valley Economic Partnership (TVEP) shows the Thames Valley is a world-class business region, and home to a large number of the world’s most innovative companies and highest spenders on Research & Development activities.
The study showed of the world’s top 250 companies in terms of their R&D spend in 2006, 65 have a significant base in the Thames Valley. Studies show that there is a strong relationship between investment in R&D and business success with 26% of the worlds top spenders residing in the Thames Valley. The Thames Valley is also a hotspot for innovation. Of the 50 most innovative firms in the world, as voted for by 2000 business executives in a Business Week 2008 study, 17 have a major base in the Thames Valley including world-leading companies such as Amazon, Blackberry and Honda based in Slough, Microsoft and ING in Reading, BMW, Dell, 3M and HP in Bracknell and Vodafone based in Newbury. Peter Norris, of TVEP welcomed the report and said “The Thames Valley has an enviable track-record in attracting and growing knowledge-driven companies thanks to its excellent skills base and access to world markets via Heathrow. It is vital we continue to be an attractive location for innovative and R&D businesses, as R&D investing businesses are in a far better position to achieve success in an increasingly competitive world market.” The report found that most R&D in the region is undertaken by companies in the fast-growing life sciences sector, companies like Syngenta and UCB Celltech. Syngenta have their world centre of excellence in Bracknell whilst UCB have their global R&D base in Slough in the Thames Valley. Dr Ian Weatherhead of UCB, a top 5 investor in UK pharmaceutical R&D, says “The Thames Valley is home to our global R&D headquarters. With good access to highly-qualified scientists and academic groups in the region it’s a good place to be located. We have recently invested in a new £25M laboratory for the discovery and early development of therapeutic antibodies, which will invigorate our efforts to bring the next generation of medicines to patients suffering from severe diseases.”. The report found the Thames Valley has a large and highly skilled workforce. One in three adult residents is qualified to degree level. The Thames Valley workforce generates an economic return 65% above the UK average. 28,000 workers are directly engaged in R&D, nearly as many as Oxford & Cambridge combined. Uniquely the Thames Valley can also draw upon a large & growing knowledge base including the University of Reading, Thames Valley University, AWE, The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Diamond Synchrotron, the National Physical Laboratory, and Transport Research Laboratory. |
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