Science is deeply imbedded in Cambridge and the city hosts the largest science cluster in Europe. Its growth is nothing short of awe inspiring and reflective of the culture of an entire region dedicated to driving the future of science and technology.
The city of Cambridge is one of the most important and beautiful in the UK, famous throughout the world for its university and colleges. Its academic excellence and range of business, commercial and scientific interests are reflected in the significant investment in science and technology enterprises that are drawn to the city.
Cambridge’s world class status is further enhanced by being part of the ‘Golden Triangle’, “which encompasses Oxford, Cambridge and London. The University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge form two corners of the triangle, while London’s Imperial College, University College London, King’s College London, and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) make up the third corner.
Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge is a centre of medical excellence. As an internationally known university teaching hospital, a government-designated biomedical research centre, one of only five academic health science centres in the UK and a partner in the development of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
Set against the backdrop of the University of Cambridge the cluster has evolved into one of the world’s most enterprising networks of people and companies. For many years, the Cambridge Phenomenon has been the subject of business, economic, political and academic interest for those directly or indirectly involved in its companies. Our goal is to promote that interest and try to answer some of the questions that arise from the debate.
There are around 1,000 technology companies in the cluster and over 40,000 people have relocated in the Cambridge region to work in these companies. This number doubles when their families are included. The economic, social and environmental impact of these companies and the people they attract are evident everywhere.
Following the Mott Report in 1970, Trinity College took the decision to create what became the Cambridge Science Park. The St. John’s Innovation Centre followed in 1988 to provide accommodation for fledgling entrepreneurial companies. Initiatives such as these prompted a new era of collaboration between academia and the private sector that continues to influence the growth and prosperity of the Cambridge Phenomenon.
The human race faces a number of global issues - Climate Change, Education, Energy, Food, Health, Security and Water. None of these can be solved by any one science or for that matter science alone. Solutions will need to be cross-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary, embracing science, technology, engineering, economics, politics, industry and commerce.
Cambridge is perfectly placed to provide a home for the research and enterprise that will tackle these challenges head on and shape the future of the world we know.