A NEW home for technology firms and student entrepreneurs has officially opened at Essex University’s Knowledge Gateway.

Speaker of the House of Commons and university chancellor, John Bercow helped to launch the £12million Innovation Centre at a special event attended by business leaders and key partners.

The Innovation Centre, at its Wivenhoe campus, is being operated by the UK’s leading innovation centre operator, Oxford Innovation, and will eventually house more than 50 businesses.

Mr Bercow, who graduated from the university with a first-class honours degree in Government in 1985, said: “The Innovation Centre takes this university’s engagement with business to a new level.

“I’m incredibly excited to see how this community grows and I will be coming back to meet the companies which move in and the students who will be developing their business ideas here.

Guests at the launch toured the facilities and also met Amy, a service robot created by Chinese company Amy Robotics, co-founded by Essex graduate Dr Ruijiao Li, who is the company’s chief roboticist.

The Innovation Centre provides a base for early-stage technology businesses to thrive.

The 38,000 sq ft centre boasts more than 50 self-contained offices.

There are also meeting and conference facilities and tailored business.

Jo Stevens, managing director of Oxford Innovation, said: “Our expert team is committed to supporting the next generation of business leaders to reach their potential at the same time as creating jobs and boosting the local economy.

“We very much look forward to the future at the Innovation Centre, Knowledge Gateway.”

The centre provides on-site facilities, including a café and areas for students to develop business ideas and space to showcase research, linked to the creative and digital sectors.

The centre is being backed by £2million of support from the Government’s Local Growth Fund via the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) and a further £2million from Essex County Council.

Adam Bryan, chief executive of SELEP, said: “This important collaboration between the university, Oxford Innovation, ourselves and the county council, will send out a positive message to local entrepreneurs that we are committed to supporting them on their path to commercial success.”

The university has invested more than £50million in the Knowledge Gateway which includes the Innovation Centre, Parkside Office Village and Essex Business School.