GD32 – Electronics and Photonics Centre

Electronics and Photonics Centre

The Electronics and Photonics Innovation Centre (EPIC) at White Rock Business Park in Paignton builds on the work of the Torbay Development Agency (TDA) and Torbay Hi Tech Forum.

Torbay aims to be a regional hub for innovation in emerging technologies. EPIC comprises a 3,834m2 central building with laboratory, clean rooms, office, and meeting space – providing flexible accommodation for new tech start-ups, spin-out and other early stage and growing companies.

EPIC provides:

  • Open market access to specialist equipment and machinery to enable the development of new prototypes and technology
  • Accommodation for existing and established new tech start-ups/ spin-out companies and inward investors
  • Support for the sector
  • Equipment for design, prototyping, testing and validation of technology within the sector

The aims of EPIC are:

  • To be a centre of excellence in supporting technological innovation in key enabling and emerging technologies
  • A facility to promote collaboration activity between businesses and research institutions
  • Commercialise R&D in electronics & photonics by bringing it to the marketplace
  • Accelerate innovation in key enabling and emerging technologies
  • Act as an hub for the growth and development of the existing hi-tech cluster
  • Support and encourage new tech start-ups and spin-out companies

The Centre also provides specialist business support for tenants and other businesses operating in the sector. It works very closely with the South Devon Hi-Tech and Digital Skills Centre, and complements existing LEP interventions brokering relationships, providing advice, information and guidance and support for growing hi-tech businesses.

The development of EPIC will directly deliver:

  • 3,700sm new floor space
  • 222 new jobs
  • £68.9m GVA pa
  • Support for 70 hi-tech businesses
  • Support 21 collaborations between industry and academia

Growth Deal funding: £3m

 

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    David Ralph

    Chief Executive

    David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

    Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

    David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.