Chilworth Science Park relaunches as The University of Southampton Science Park

25 April 2006:

Chilworth Science Park, one of the UK’s most successful technology communities, has unveiled its new identity. It will now be known as The University of Southampton Science Park – a name that positions the park to attract science and technology companies from all over the world.

This re-branding is part of an integrated campaign to raise awareness of the Science Park at a local, national and international level. The new name makes the Park’s location clear and also highlights its close relationship with the University of Southampton – one of the top science and technology-led universities in the UK.

Chief Executive, Dr Don Fox said, ‘The majority of our tenants come from less than 10 miles away. We believe that this is in part due to The Park’s current name. Chilworth is well-known as a leafy suburb of Southampton but the name has very little recognition across the rest of the South of England or nationally. From abroad the name conveys nothing of location or character. Our new name “The University of Southampton Science Park” makes clear our location and highlights our relationship with the university. However, this is rather a long name for regular use so, for informal communications, the short form “Southampton Science Park” will be employed’.

Close links with the University

The park is owned by the University of Southampton, a centre of technical excellence and scientific endeavor, with a prestigious international reputation. This relationship creates an opportunity for companies to collaborate closely with the university, while being located only 3 miles away in a superb parkland setting. The university offers many opportunities to science park companies, such as: the recruitment of graduates in high tech disciplines; the opportunity to take consultancy services from university staff; the proximity of university technical facilities, such as wind tunnels and the availability of scientific and technological discoveries which can become the basis for new products and services.

A New Brand

Dr Fox added, ‘The science park has also taken the opportunity to update its branding without losing touch with its former identity. The pallet of colours in the house style will remain the same but the logo has been replaced. It uses a series of crescents - their precise geometrical shape alluding to science and technology - to create our initial letters “SSP”. These letters also represent forest trees, reminding us of the magnificent mature trees that are so much a part of the scene on the science park’. The new brand identity was created by south coast-based Outsourced Marketing Ltd.

Business Sense

The business case driving this change is the desire to become more recognisable throughout the UK and internationally as part of a campaign to widen the Science Park’s appeal to science-based companies. There will be particular emphasis on creating awareness of Southampton Science Park with major companies, many of them overseas, which already have a close working relationship with leading research teams at the University of Southampton.

‘We believe that this change in name and house style will allow us to make an even greater contribution to the local economy by bringing more international brands to this locality.’ added Dr Fox.

For further details contact:

Name: Don Fox, Chief Executive, Southampton Science Park
Email: d.fox@science-park.co.uk
Tel: 023 8076 7420
Web: www.science-park.co.uk