Manchester Science Parks chief executive, Jane Davies, awarded OBE for services to innovation

Jane Davies, chief executive of Manchester Science Parks, has been awarded an OBE for Services to Innovation in the Queen's birthday honours list.

Jane was nominated for the award by members of her team for her work and dedication in promoting innovation and enterprise within the Manchester City Region.

Jane said of her award: “It is an honour to even have been nominated for this distinguished accolade and I am thrilled to have been recognised for my contribution to innovation.

“I consider myself extremely fortunate to have a job I am passionate about and to work alongside people I admire and respect, and this is a surprising independent recognition of what I enjoy doing.”

Peter Folkman, chairman of Manchester Science Parks, added: “Congratulations to Jane for this well deserved honour. 

“Jane has played a key role in enhancing the science park movement, both in the UK and globally, which in turn has contributed to innovation on a regional, national and international scale.

“We are all extremely proud of the way she has pioneered the groundbreaking role Manchester Science Parks has played in the success of Manchester’s knowledge economy.

“Her contribution to innovation and enterprise in the city region cannot be underestimated and this is a fitting tribute to her dedication and hard work over the years.”

Jane has received other prestigious accolades in the past, receiving honours from the University of Manchester for her exceptional contribution to the city region and the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic for her contribution to developing relations between Manchester and Italian centres of innovation.

Ends.

Notes to Editor:

Science Parks

Jane was President of the European Division of the International Association of Science Parks (IASP) and has recently been elected President of the IASP Advisory Council. She was also Chair of the UK Science Park Association and still sits on the board.

Manchester City Region

Jane is a director of Manchester's Commission for the New Economy and Chairs the Innovation Sub Group, Manchester Innovation Investment Fund Gateway Review Group and the Finance and Audit Committee. She is a board member of Corridor Manchester and a member of the Innospace Advisory Group.

Enterprise

Jane is a member of the UKBI Enterprise Panel and until recently was a board member of IKT. She has worked with the British Council and other agencies offering advice and support in countries where the science park movement is in its infancy e.g. India, New Zealand and Tunisia.

Manchester  Science Parks (msp)

www.manchesterscienceparks.co.uk

msp was voted Best Science Park in 2007 by our UKSPA peers and is continually viewed as a ‘best practice’ science park, attracting a substantial number of visitors nationally and internationally.

Under Jane's leadership, added value services were introduced at msp, offering tenant companies information, advice and networking opportunities on and off the Park.

msp hosted a workshop on 3rd Generation Science Parks which involved participants from all over the world and led to a groundbreaking research paper identifying science parks as not just a collection of buildings, but a gateway to a wider role in the economic and technological development of a region or country.

Last year was msp’s 25^th anniversary year, and was commemorated with a Civic Reception hosted by the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Alison Firth. Over 300 guests gathered at Manchester Town Hall to join msp’s staff and Board of Directors in celebrating 25 years of nurturing innovation and supporting the development of knowledge based businesses.