The design by local architect GSSArchitecture will be the third Newcastle University new building for the Science Central site.

Construction is due to begin soon with the building scheduled for opening in 2020.

Bowmer & Kirkland has been selected using the North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium framework which has six pre-tendered contractors, including Sir Robert McAlpine and BAM Construction.

The Innovation Centre will be the third Newcastle University building to be located on the Science Central site and will house the University’s teams from the National Innovation Centre for Ageing, the National Innovation Centre for Data and the National Institute for Health Research Innovation Observatory.

Professor Mike Catt, Director of the National Innovation Centre for Ageing, said: “The National Innovation Centre will provide national leadership on the global question ‘how do we age well?’

“By 2050, the number of people in the world aged 60 years or over is projected to more than double, reaching nearly 2.1 billion. This globally ageing population presents many challenges around quality of life and health and wellbeing amongst others as well as multiple economic and social opportunities.

“This new building will provide NICA and NICD with a much-needed facility to bring together industry, experts and the public under one roof to drive the collaborative development of new products and services and cement the North East as global trailblazer in innovation.”