Telecoms are top dog in Ipswich. BT’s Global Research & Development Campus, Adastral Park, employs more than 3,000 people. Former BT employees have gone on to set up successful businesses in the area, including Sharedband and Zog Energy.
Also based at Adastral Park is Innovation Martlesham, a cluster of more than 90 high-tech ICT companies, which also runs its own ICT business incubator.
In August 2016, University Campus Suffolk became the University of Suffolk, fully independent from the University of East Anglia (UEA) and the University of Essex.
The University of Suffolk is expanding its STEM provision and has established the Ipswich Waterfront Innovation Centre, offering support to entrepreneurs and ICT businesses. It also hosts the Ipswich Games Hub, which will work with computer design students to develop entrepreneurial skills.
BT launched the Tommy Flowers Institute at Adastral Park. The institute will focus on bringing ICT-sector organisations together with academic researchers exploring areas, such as cyber security, big data, autonomics and converged networks.
New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership has launched both a micro grant scheme, and a new co-investment fund, New Anglia Capital, providing match funding with angel investors.
The British Robotics Seed Fund, newly launched at Adastral Park, will invest in a dozen promising robotics startups from across the UK each year.
Meanwhile, a £4 million project, Innovation Bridge, is being launched to deliver advice and grants to SMEs across the east of England.
X-on creates and delivers smart and secure telecoms to finance companies and healthcare providers including BUPA, Care UK and GP surgeries nationally. X-on combines close working with clients with extensive technical experience of cloud-based contact centres to deliver its solutions.
X-on’s location in Suffolk means we can access the City of London in one hour, while providing staff with space to think and breathe without the cost of city dwelling.
International software company Coderus specialises in embedded and mobile application solutions for brands including Bowers & Wilkins and Land Rover BAR. Coderus hosts the East’s annual Google, Apple and Microsoft live-stream events
Being based at Adastral Park – BT’s R&D; campus just outside Ipswich– has been one of the keys to our success. Ipswich offers-low cost offices, access to highly skilled talent, great connectivity with London and a positive work/life balance.