DARESBURY companies have revealed that the value of collaborations with other business quadrupled in 2015.

Businesses at Sci-Tech Daresbury reported that the value of co-working with other companies, universities and research body the Science and Technology Facilities Council grew from £4.9m in 2014 to £21.5m in 2015.

A survey of businesses at the site revealed that 74 per cent were in collaborations either with universities or the Science and Technology Facilities Council, while 60 per cent of companies surveyed at the site were collaborating with at least one other.

Head of Daresbury Laboratory Professor Susan Smith said: “The opportunity to collaborate and take advantage of expertise and facilities provided by partners is clearly a compelling selling point for Sci-Tech Daresbury.

“There is a culture of open innovation at the site and we proactively promote interactions and collaborations with and between companies, the science base of the Science and Technology Facilities Council and the universities.

“Businesses tell us that the collaboration opportunities are of high strategic importance and frequently essential to their business model and growth.”