ID Manchester partner selection process scheduled to resume
This week, The University of Manchester announced it has resumed the procurement process to find its development and investment partner to deliver the £1.5 billion new world-class innovation district ID Manchester.
The University paused the process in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, having already notified the four highest scoring bidders it will be taking forward into the detailed dialogue stage.
The pause has enabled both the University and the bidders to consider and deal with effects of the pandemic. The final partner selection will now be made in Spring 2021.
Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, said: “The University is committed to the delivery of ID Manchester and our ambition to create the innovation capital of Europe is unwavering. Having paused, reviewed and reflected, we now have a way forward to resume the final stage of the selection process to find our joint venture partner.”
Diana Hampson, Director of Estates and Facilities at The University of Manchester said: “We look forward to beginning the detailed dialogue with the selected bidders. Pausing the process has allowed ourselves and the bidding teams space to deal with the immediate impact and challenges created by the pandemic. ID Manchester is an incredibly exciting project and we are looking forward to progressing to the next stage.”
The Vision for ID Manchester
ID Manchester will be a new neighbourhood that will be an engine for economic growth with the potential to create over 6,000 new jobs.
The University has strong track record in developing long-lasting, commercial relationships with leading global organisations such as Rolls Royce, the BBC, BP, ARM, Boots, National Grid, Colgate Palmolive, Siemens, Unilever, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
Since 2004 the University has contributed more than £746 million to the economy through nurturing and developing businesses spinning out of its research and development facilities, and it is on these foundations it seeks to build ID Manchester.