Science, innovation and incubation centres

Our region is rightfully proud of its technological success, from progressive manufacturing businesses to flourishing new sectors such as creative and digital. Yorkshire Forward helps to invest in centres of excellence which offer priority-sector companies a range of business benefits as well as opportunities for networking and collaboration:

Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP)

The AMP, situated just off the M1 at Rotherham, is a world-class manufacturing technology park providing advanced solutions which ensure competitive advantage for industry. The AMP focuses on materials and structures, covering metallic & composite materials typically used in precision industries including aerospace, automotive, sport, environmental and energy, oil and gas, defence, and construction. The AMP is home to the National Metals Technology Centre (NaMTeC), expected to benefit more than 500 businesses across Yorkshire & Humber and a further 5,000 nationwide, and ITC (see below).

The Advanced Digital Institute (ADI)

The ADI is an independent, not-for-profit research and development institute based in the Aire Valley, West Yorkshire. It can provide world-class industry expertise and insight to produce technical and strategic solutions for technology companies to increase their market lead and competitiveness.

Science City York

Science City York is a successful business and skills development initiative, driving the creation and growth of business and employment opportunities across York and North Yorkshire within three fast-growing technology sectors – bioscience, creative industries, and IT & digital.
Since its inception in 1998 as a partnership between City of York Council and the University of York, Science City York has helped to create over 80 new technology companies and 2 800 new jobs.

Advanced Manufacturing Park Technology Centre 

Based at the AMP, the Advanced Manufacturing Park Technology Centre offers 27,000 sq ft of flexible office/workshop space to some of the country’s most innovative and forward-thinking entrepreneurs and companies in advanced engineering, manufacturing and materials organisations. At the heart of Yorkshire’s AEM cluster, the AMP Technology Centre  provides early-stage premises and support services for fledgling and growing entrepreneurial businesses and university spin-offs, as well as subsidiaries or R&D operations of existing companies. Within the cutting-edge, environmentally efficient building are a café and chill-out area with WiFi, a conference centre, and access to professional support services, a receptionist service, and facilities management services.

Barnsley Digital Media Centre (BDMC)

£9.7m of Yorkshire Forward and Objective 1 funding has been invested in the development of the Barnsley Digital Media Centre—an innovative and vibrant business space designed to help creative, media and digital businesses to grow. The centre offers 72 state-of-the-art incubator units, conference and meeting facilities and a technology showcase. It also offers a range of tailored business support and mentoring services to create a supportive, nurturing environment, and opportunities for networking and collaboration.

The Environmental Energy Technology Centre (EETC)

An £8.7m incubator building has been funded by Yorkshire Forward to support businesses entering the emerging low-carbon-technologies market. The EETC supports more than 30 businesses engaged in the development of products and services which will aid the transition to a low-carbon economy in our region. The centre is adjacent to the Innovation Technology Centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) at Rotherham. Businesses based here are able to access the expertise behind cutting-edge manufacturing techniques and other technologies within the AMP. The centre further empowers the Yorkshire & Humber region to compete for a strong share of the estimated £400bn global environmental technologies market, of which £30bn is expected to be centred in the UK.