Nottingham’s science excellence comes under the microscope this week as the city prepares to host a national science property conference.

And Vision Nottingham, Nottingham’s inward investment agency, will be promoting the city’s enviable science property offer at The UKSPA Conference 2008 – “Laboratories for the Future” on Wednesday 2nd July. . Running alongside The Scientific Laboratory Show 2008, the event at The East Midlands Conference Centre will be an important date in the science world’s calendar.

There are 98 companies exhibiting on the day and the exhibition is expected to attract over 750 visitors. Nottingham BioCity’s CEO Dr Glenn Crocker will give a welcome from UKSPA (United Kingdom Science Park Association Conference & Exhibition) and an introduction to Nottingham. Nottingham City Council’s Director of Sustainable Development Simon Green will be holding a seminar entitled ‘Looking beyond the laboratory.’

He will tell delegates that having the right science property infrastructure and the availability of quality laboratory space is undoubtedly crucial to the future growth of science companies. Simon will also look at factors outside the laboratory, which have a major impact on what is achieved inside the laboratory. This session will focus on how harnessing and retaining skills and knowledge is a prerequisite for ensuring the UK’s science companies can remain competitive, particularly in today’s global economy. It will also look to de-mystify Government white papers and plans for supporting the growth of the ‘Knowledge Economy’ and, most importantly, what this means for science companies on a practical level.

Deputy Leader of Nottingham City Council, Councillor Graham Chapman said: “As a designated Science City it is a great honour for Nottingham to hold the UKSPA conference and a chance for Nottingham to showcase its enviable science property credentials. The Nottingham science property offer gives global companies the opportunity to have future technology at their fingertips.”

Vision Nottingham will launch their ‘Developing Innovative Space - Nottingham science property offer’ postcards and brochure on the day and Nottingham will also host a seminar on business support and grants for science companies.