A MAJOR new scientific research facility has been officially opened in Headington.

Former Oxford MP Baroness Blackwood, now the parliamentary under secretary of state for innovation, opened the £11m Oxford BioEscalator building on Tuesday.

Located on the University of Oxford's Old Road Campus, the newly-built centre aims to support the development of ‘innovative, high-quality science.'

It is home to 14 companies and has been set up with the intention of helping start-up businesses to grow, particularly those working in the life sciences sector.

Oxford Mail:

Here's how it was meant to look

Businesses are able to rent different levels of space to support their research work – from one bench in an innovation lab to hiring an entire lab space.

It has been funded by the Government’s City Deal, with the help of the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP).

Minister for local growth, Jake Berry MP, said: “I am proud one of the world’s largest medical research facilities has been made possible thanks to £11million from the Oxford and Oxfordshire City Deal.

“This major investment will help accelerate discoveries in medical science by providing researchers, clinicians and entrepreneurs a place to work together to develop new and innovative ideas which will benefit people across the globe.”

Since 2011, OxLEP – working with its partners – has secured over £650m-worth of government funding for Oxfordshire.