AS many as 100 hi-tech jobs could be generated by a £3 million scheme creating new offices and laboratories at the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) in Sand Hutton.

Next Friday, Lord Henley, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Minister for plant health and science, will open the two-storey 2,000 sq metre “Innovation Campus”.

It will be used as “grow on” space by small to medium enterprises (SMEs) across the life sciences, biotechnology and environmental sectors.

Already there has been “strong interest” from SMEs in York, Hull and Leeds, some of them attracted by the site which lends itself to research co-operation with Fera, said Rod Anson, Fera’s commercial development manager.

“We are looking for negotiations with a half a dozen rather than hundreds of companies. We have had interest from substantial multinationals but we want growing SMEs,” he said.

Funding for the project has come jointly from the European Regional Development Fund, which has contributed £2 million, and Fera’s owners, Defra, which has stumped up £1 million.

The money has been used to revamp a building at Fera which is now surplus to requirements and to create modular fit-outs for the new tenants who will be on five or ten year leases.

It is part of a massive £19.7 million investment by the European Commission for a major project led by Science City York in partnership with the University of York and Fera.

As announced in The Press last November, the investment is designed to boost the productivity of the region’s hi-tech industries by £37 million, while generating 90 new businesses and creating 685 new jobs.

Adrian Belton, chief executive of Fera, said the new facilities in Sand Hutton would provide and support truly multidisciplinary science.

“This development can only be good for growing innovative businesses wanting easier technology transfer and faster times to market.

“It means that we can play a part in helping the competitiveness of businesses based in the region. It also makes the region a better place in which to invest and develop, for the benefit of us all.

“We are delighted to be at the heart of a truly collaborative partnership between the public and private sectors, and academia.”