The Innovation Hub is a key part of MSIP’s regeneration of a former manufacturing facility into an Innovation Parc focused on tackling climate change, that will provide a focal point for the Innovation Parc.

Dundee City Council secured £3.5 million of funding to support the Innovation Hub from the Tay Cities Deal Industrial Investment Fund. The project has also been funded by Scottish Enterprise and Michelin.

MSIP, a joint venture between Michelin, Dundee City Council and Scottish Enterprise, is a world-class Innovation Parc in Dundee for sustainable mobility and decarbonisation, which aims to drive growth and diversity in the Scottish economy whilst addressing the global climate emergency.

SCN caught up with Kevin Dickson, regional managing director at Robertson Construction Tayside, to hear about how the Innovation Hub has been built

The Innovation Hub has been built by Robertson Construction Tayside with its carbon footprint in mind, with a Glulam (glued laminated timber) and CLT (cross-laminated timber) structure used in place of a conventional steel construction, saving an estimated 715 tonne of carbon dioxide.

Both materials used are a natural alternative to steel, concrete, and plasterboard, and are manufactured off-site to precise size specifications, resulting in very little to no waste in the construction phase.

The use of these natural materials from sustainably managed forests reduces the buildings carbon footprint in two ways. Firstly, less carbon dioxide is generated during the production of Glulam and CLT than conventional building materials. Secondly, the use of wood as the principal building material locks away the carbon it contains for the lifetime of the building.

The Innovation Hub is located at the main entrance to the Innovation Parc, creating a space to support and drive collaboration and innovation. Core facilities include co-working space, flexible meeting and events space, design labs and a range of business support services.

The Innovation Hub is due for completion by October 2023.

Colin McIlraith, chief operating officer, MSIP, said: “This is a significant moment for MSIP, marking once again the amount of progress we have made at the Innovation Parc in the 2 years since we took over stewardship of the Innovation Parc.

“The Innovation Hub sits at the core of our mission at MSIP, to create a place where industry, academia and government can come together and thrive, to enable the growth and advancement of the sustainable mobility and decarbonisation industries.

“With the physical structure now in place, and construction continuing at pace, I look forward to welcoming innovators, businesses, learners and the community into this remarkable building later this year.”

Scottish Enterprise chief executive Adrian Gillespie said: “The Innovation Hub will help cultivate a culture of innovation and collaboration which will see MSIP play a vital role in making Scotland a global leader in sustainable mobility.

“I am excited to see the Innovation Hub become a focal point for businesses, academics and researchers at MSIP to work together on developing, testing and commercialising new products and services for a sustainable, low carbon future.”

Dundee City Council leader, Councillor John Alexander, said: “This is another important milestone in the transformation of the former Michelin site, and it’s fantastic to see the progress that has been made.

“Driving innovation in low-carbon transport and sustainable mobility is at the heart of the MSIP mission, and I look forward to the creativity and collaboration this new facility fosters playing a part not only in creating jobs and prosperity but also helping to address the global climate emergency.”

Kevin Dickson, regional managing director at Robertson Construction Tayside, said: “The commitment made by MSIP to regenerate the site is clearly demonstrated through the Innovation Hub, the selection of materials reflects the aspirations that are being delivered throughout the project and how the facility will be used in the coming years. 

“Decarbonisation is a key element in addressing the climate emergency and the end use of the Parc will place Dundee at the centre of innovation and collaboration to make positive changes that will benefit both the economy and the environment.

“We are proud to be continuing our relationship with MSIP and to celebrate this significant milestone in the delivery of the Innovation Hub.”