The idea for the innovation centre in Cambridge was first proposed by Dr Chris Johnson, Senior Bursar of St John’s College, following a visit to the USA in 1984. During his trip he visited universities and science parks, which included an innovation centre in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Returning to Cambridge, he convened a small group including architect Ian Purdy and Walter Herriot, a banker working with early-stage companies, to plan the St John’s Innovation Centre.
The publication in 1985 of The Cambridge Phenomenon: The Growth of High Technology Industry in a University Town by Segal Quince Wicksteed, demonstrated to the College that investment in this sector was likely to be successful. St John’s Innovation Park was subsequently established on a 21 acre plot of land, owned by St John’s College since 1534, and the Innovation Centre was opened in 1988.
It was the first innovation centre in Europe to focus on supporting knowledge-based businesses. It is the oldest such business incubator in the United Kingdom.
Following the success of the original centre, a second phase, Dirac House, was completed in July 1989, and the self-contained Jeffreys Building was completed in February 1990. Dirac House is named after Paul Dirac, Nobel Prize winner and member of St John’s College, while the Jeffreys Building is named after Sir Harold Jeffreys, a fellow of St John’s College. Four further buildings, the Vitrium , the Platinum, St John’s House and Edinburgh House, were added to the Park. The land remains the property of St John’s College.
