A high tech US battery specialist is setting up its new UK and European base at Keele University Science Park, bringing high tech jobs and green industry to the West Midlands.
California-based Contour Energy Systems chose the new base at Keele over other European and UK sites following support from the international investment team and Bridge to Growth programme at regional development agency Advantage West Midlands.
The new base will provide the company with a strategic presence in advance of the rollout of new commercial battery systems in Europe and bring at least 10 high tech, high value jobs to Staffordshire.
Founded through a collaboration between globally renowned CalTech (California Institute of Technology) and CNRS, (French National Center for Scientific Research), Contour has already won two contracts from NASA, including one to develop high-energy batteries capable of performing under a wide temperature range during manned space missions.
Contour is managed by a world-class team of battery industry leaders from CalTech, Energizer, Duracell, ConocoPhillips, Hewlett-Packard and Ultralife. Trade body UK Trade & Investment put directors in touch with the Bridge to Growth scheme.
Battery industry veteran Simon Lee-Overy is the new managing director of Contour in the UK. He said: “Having an established presence in the UK provides us with a strategic beach head as we prepare the launch of our battery systems in the UK and Europe.
“The support and guidance we received from the expert team at Advantage West Midlands was invaluable and certainly went a long way to securing Contour’s decision to base in the region.
“The pent up demand for next-generation portable power solutions across the UK and throughout Europe is the key driver in establishing Contour’s new base. Contour is uniquely positioned with its advanced battery systems in delivering solutions with improved price/performance characteristics.”
Richard Butler, Head of International Investment at regional development agency Advantage West Midlands, said: “Contour's decision to invest in the West Midlands not only brings a successful global brand to the region but also many more high skilled jobs, importantly in a high tech, high value industry.
“This latest news means in the history of the Agency from 1999 to 2010, we’ve helped to attract to the West Midlands 356 inward investment projects which were forecast to create 19,986 new jobs and safeguard 12,161 jobs.”
"The UK is the world's number one location for inward investment so it’s crucial that the West Midlands region has a presence on the international stage.
"The competition to attract these companies is intense - but we’ve ensured that we provide the right support and conditions to encourage overseas companies to locate here."
Rosi Monkman, business support manager at Keele University Science and Business Park, said: "We are delighted to welcome Contour Energy Systems. It is clear that our central location in the UK is a key factor in attracting high-calibre, international companies looking for a base from which to enter the UK and European markets."
Nearly half of the Agency’s inward investment projects were attributed to the Bridge to Growth campaign, a ‘one-stop shop’ package of expert tax, legal and business advice specifically designed to attract and assist knowledge-based based innovation-led companies into the region for the first time at minimal cost and risk.