Hausers gift £8m to University to promote entrepreneurship, further boost science/tech alliances on West Cambridge site
Hermann Hauser, one of the key figures in kick starting the Cambridge cluster of high tech companies and in building a raft of businesses that have sustained it, has, with his wife Pamela Raspe, donated £8m to the University of Cambridge to enable a major new focal point for the promotion of entrepreneurship to be created.
The gift was made through The Hauser-Raspe Foundation.
‘The Hauser Forum’ at West Cambridge, the University's growing science and technology campus, will comprise two landmark buildings sited by JJ Thomson Avenue, opposite the world-famous Cavendish Laboratory and across the road from the Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge in the William Gates Building that was enabled by a gift from the head of Microsoft.
The Centre for Entrepreneurship will be home to Cambridge Enterprise Ltd, the University's science and technology commercialisation arm, with offices, incubation spaces and a seminar centre. A Café Atrium will provide a social space for the entire West Cambridge site and should enhance engagement with the wider business community.
Dr Hauser (pictured) is a graduate of the University, having taken his PhD at the Cavendish Laboratory. He founded Acorn Computers 30 years ago, has been behind many other highly successful business ventures in the region since then. He is also a founder of the still–active the venture capital firm Amadeus Capital Partners.
Dr Raspe is also a graduate and a former lecturer at the University.
Adjacent to the Hauser Forum, a third building will be constructed to provide A grade office and research space, enabling companies involved in supporting the University's commercialisation activities to work in closer partnership with Cambridge Enterprise and the growing numbers of academic researchers located at West Cambridge.
‘… generosity and flair’
University Vice-Chancellor Alison Richard said: “Hermann and Pamela's support for the new Hauser Forum reflects not only their generosity but also the flair and imagination that they have brought to their business activities. This gift to the current 800th Anniversary Campaign will make an outstanding contribution to our ability to take research into the market place and to promote innovation and entrepreneurship.”
Dr Hauser said: “Pamela and I are pleased to make this gift to Cambridge University, which has played a big part in our lives. We welcome this opportunity to support Cambridge Enterprise, for two reasons; firstly, it will benefit budding academic entrepreneurs and secondly, the University will benefit from its participation in successful spin-outs.”
The site is in the heart of the Cambridge cluster and next to the University's Computer, Electrical Engineering, Nanoscience and Physics buildings. West Cambridge is also the location for a number of University collaborations with commercial organisations including Microsoft, Nokia, Hitachi, Schlumberger and AVEVA Group.
The future of the 163 acre West Cambridge site was transformed in 1999 when a masterplan for total new development of over 1.93 million sq ft of academic, research institute, residential sports and other facilities, including 441,000 sq ft of new commercial research accommodation, was approved.
The Hauser Forum and the associated commercial space are a cornerstone of the University's strategy for West Cambridge which is providing the modern research and teaching facilities needed to compete with other leading international universities; and at the same time acts as a pioneering centre for research collaboration with local and international industry.
In December 2007 Cambridge Enterprise marked its first birthday as a limited company. During this first year 60 licences and 95 consultancy contracts were finalised and the company assumed the management of a portfolio of 72 companies in which it holds equity. The turnover from technology and knowledge transfer was £6m of which £5.3m (88%) was returned to the University's academics and departments.
The Hauser Forum is being developed in partnership with Turnstone Estates. Work is scheduled to begin on site in May.
1st February 2008
