Illumina Inc, one of the world’s leading developers, manufacturers and marketers of next generation life-science tools and integrated systems, is establishing its new European headquarters at Chesterford Research Park, at the heart of the South Cambridge Science Cluster.
The US-based company has taken a pre-let of the 41,500 sq ft Gonville Laboratory at the Park. Illumina is currently enjoying rapid expansion and this week announced its financial results for the fiscal year 2007, reporting revenue of $366.8 million, a 99% increase over the $184.6 million reported in 2006.
In November 2006, Illumina acquired Solexa, who have been established at Chesterford Research Park since October 2000. Since that time, Chesterford has assisted the company’s growth through the provision of different types of laboratory and office accommodation.
Martin Sylvester, Director of Churchmanor Estates Plc, joint developers of the Park with Morley Fund Management commented: “Securing such a major pre letting is a real coup for Chesterford. We have worked hard to provide both our new and existing occupiers with the capability to expand at Chesterford and also to provide excellent Park facilities to ensure that they and their staff enjoy working here.”
He continued: “This is an important pre letting, which takes the total of new laboratories to approaching 150,000 sq ft with existing laboratories in addition. It’s a tremendous endorsement for Chesterford Research Park that another existing occupier has decided to expand its facilities with us and Illumina’s increased presence strengthens the Park’s reputation as a centre of excellence in the South Cambridge Biotech cluster.”
Speaking about the company and the move, Alan Kersey, VP & Site Manager for Illumina said: “Illumina’s Chesterford site plays a key role in research and development. Just last week we made a ground breaking announcement that in a matter of weeks Illumina scientists sequenced the first African male genome using the Company’s Genome Analyzer.” Kersey continued: “We have enjoyed a long-standing collaborative relationship with the Chesterford Research Park management group, and look forward to extending our tenure in this new facility.”
This is the second major letting Chesterford Park has secured in as many months, following closely on the announcement that Pfizer Inc., the world’s largest pharmaceutical company, is to extend its R&D operation at the Park by leasing the new 41,850 sq ft Emmanuel Laboratory and occupying additional temporary laboratory accommodation.
Set in 250 acres of open parkland in the South Cambridge Biotech Cluster, Chesterford Research Park offers science and technology-based companies innovative designed buildings, developed to suit their individual needs, together with full support services including The Nucleus, a central facility centre, a gymnasium, restaurant, bar, shop, conference rooms and a 7-hole golf course. Since its inception some 7 years ago, the Park has attracted continuing and growing investment from bioscience companies, establishing itself – and the wider South Cambridge area - as one of the UK’s leading R&D locations.
Joint agents Atis Real and Carter Jonas advised Morley Fund Management and The Churchmanor Estates Plc and Cushman & Wakefield advised Illumina Inc.
Note for editors:
Chesterford Research Park is being developed as a 250 acre low density scheme to provide high-quality accommodation in an attractive environment for science and technology based companies of all sizes. To date, more than 215,000 sq ft of laboratory and R&D space has been let and occupied or is reaching practical completion. Further phases of construction will extend the development to approximately 600,000 sq ft (56,500 sq m). The park is being developed as a joint venture between Morley Fund Management and The Churchmanor Estates Company Plc. www.chesterfordresearchpark.com
Illumina Inc
Illumina (www.illumina.com) is a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of innovative, next-generation life-science tools and integrated systems for the analysis of genetic variation and biological function. Using our proprietary technologies, we provide a comprehensive line of products and services that currently serve the sequencing, genotyping, and gene expression markets, and we expect to enter the market for molecular diagnostics. Our customers include leading genomic research centers, pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, clinical research organizations, and biotechnology companies. Our tools provide researchers around the world with the performance, throughput, cost effectiveness, and flexibility necessary to perform the billions of genetic tests needed to extract valuable medical information from advances in genomics and proteomics. We believe this information will enable researchers to correlate genetic variation and biological function, which will enhance drug discovery and clinical research, allow diseases to be detected earlier, and permit better choices of drugs for individual patients.
