IBM Chief opens new Computer Science building
Posted on 29 March 2011
The £21 million complex is one of four major academic buildings in the first phase of the University’s £750 million campus expansion at Heslington East, one of the biggest capital developments in UK higher education in recent years.
Dr Graham Spittle CBE, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President, Software Group Europe, for IBM opened the building on Tuesday 29 March 2011.
The new building is equipped with the latest software and hardware teaching laboratories and some of the most advanced research laboratories in the country. These include the Home Laboratory where new domestic technology – particularly to support people with disabilities – is trialled in a real-life setting.
Dr Spittle met senior academics and toured the building, which received its first students at the start of the current academic year. He also took part in a seminar with students and delivered a keynote address before formally opening the building.
He said: “The opening coincides with a major landmark at IBM, as we celebrate our Centennial year. At this time, we too are firmly focused on the role that Computer Science can play in addressing major global issues: food availability, water supply and distribution, energy supply and security, city congestion and environmental modelling.
"Through this investment, and by partnering effectively with business in its research and development, the new facility will be fundamental in developing the future skills and expertise required to address these challenges."
This superb new building... accelerates our pioneering concept of linking businesses to research centres and teaching departments in an academic setting
Professor Brian Cantor
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of York, Professor Brian Cantor, said: “This superb new building is part of a £750 million investment that accelerates our pioneering concept of linking businesses to research centres and teaching departments in an academic setting.
“It is a physical expression of our determination to foster the highest standards of academic excellence. It helps us to deliver a world-class student experience, while providing an intellectually stimulating environment for interactions between the University, researchers, students and business.”
The Head of Computer Science at York, Professor John McDermid, added: “Our fantastic new building has enhanced our facilities for research and teaching, benefitting both staff and students. It provides purpose-designed facilities for teaching, space to support spin-out companies and entrepreneurship, as well as dedicated research laboratories to help keep our research at the forefront of the discipline. The move helps to cement our position as a leading department of computer science nationally and internationally.”
York’s Department of Computer Science at York is ranked consistently among the top Computer Science departments in the UK. It has a strong international reputation, with active research links to universities and companies across the world including the USA, India, China and Australia.
The Department has relations with industry including IBM, Crossrail, BAE Systems, and Rolls-Royce. It has eight major research groups which include Artificial Intelligence, High-Integrity Systems Engineering where strong industrial links enable researchers to validate research ideas on safety and security in fields ranging from, aerospace to healthcare and human–computer interaction.
Development of the new Department of Computer Science building has been supported by investment from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in Yorkshire and the Humber, part of a major infrastructure project led by Science City York to extend the assets and strategic potential of York as a leading centre for science and innovation.
Notes to editors:
- More on the Department of Computer Science at York at www.cs.york.ac.uk/
- More on the University of York’s campus development at www.york.ac.uk/campus-development/
- More on IBM at www.ibm.com/software
- Yorkshire and The Humber ERDF Programme 2007-2013
The regional ERDF Programme, approved in December 2007 was launched in February 2008.
The programme is managed by Yorkshire Forward on behalf of a regional partnership including the National Government, European Commission and Regional bodies.
The programme provides €583 million from the European Regional Development Fund to invest in the region’s economic development by 2013 with €271m for South Yorkshire and €312m for the rest of the region. South Yorkshire has extra resources to help with its transition from its earlier Objective 1 status.
Further information about the ERDF Programme in Yorkshire and The Humber is available at www.yorkshire-forward.com/erdf - European Regional Development Fund
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) was set up in 1975 to stimulate economic development in less prosperous regions of the European Union (EU) and to act as a significant instrument with which the EU can support its Cohesion Policy.
As EU membership has grown, ERDF has developed into a major instrument for helping to redress regional imbalances. The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) manages ERDF in England.
Between 2007 and 2013, England benefits from an investment of €3.2 billion (approx £2.5 bn) of ERDF. It is delivered by regional programmes in each English region, managed by the Regional Development Agency. England also receives €177 million ERDF for two national cross-border co-operation programmes with France, Flanders and the Netherlands and another €193.8 million is available to the United Kingdom for participating in three trans-national co-operation programmes across the North West Europe, North Sea and Atlantic areas.
ERDF is directed at projects offering substantial benefits which meet the needs of an area and would not take place without a grant. It is used to provide help towards the project costs with grants set at a minimum level required to allow the project to go ahead. As a general rule, however, the EU contributes no more than 50% of the eligible cost with the rest of the funding, known as ‘match funding’ coming from other public sources.
Information about the European Union’s support for regional policy, including ERDF is available at www.ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.htm
Contact details
Keep up to date
Subscribe to news feeds
