Forum is the future for entrepreneurship

The Hauser Forum - a new focal point for entrepreneurship in the region - was today officially opened by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. Made possible by a major £8m benefaction from the Hauser-Raspe Foundation, as well as a £2m grant from EEDA (East of England Development Agency), the Forum is the new home of Cambridge Enterprise - the University of Cambridge's commercialisation office. Work on the development, which consists of two landmark buildings, the Entrepreneurship Centre and the Broers Building, began in September 2008, on the University's West Cambridge site. The state-of-the-art enterprise hub has been designed to stimulate innovative collaboration between clusters of academics, start-up businesses and established industries. Professor Lynn Gladden, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, said: "The Hauser Forum will play a central role in setting the future agenda for innovation in the university, the region and for the UK economy." Teri Willey, Chief Executive of Cambridge Enterprise said: "The incredible leadership of donors such as Hermann Hauser and Pamela Raspe has made this space possible. We are very fortunate to have such a unique purpose-built environment for innovation in Cambridge." The Hauser Forum will also feature an 'IdeaSpace' to support emerging innovations and to link them with entrepreneurial activities within the University and around the East of England. The IdeaSpace Director, Stew McTavish, said: "I'm truly excited and humbled to be a part of the Forum.