The hub, which will consist of five building elements, is being jointly procured by the University and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

AECOM Professional Services is providing project and cost management services for the major construction project, which will take place on the University’s Gogerddan campus on the outskirts of Aberystwyth.

The centre will allow research into food, nutrition and energy security, renewable energies and biotechnologies.

One of the existing buildings on the Gogerddan site has already been refurbished and will provide over 300m2 of rentable office accommodation to the business community.

The project, delayed after originally being slated to open in 2015, was put on ice after full funding could not be found, but has now advanced with cash from the European Union Reg­ional Development Fund.

New facilities will include a seed bio-bank and processing acility; a bio-refining centre; an advanced analytical science centre; a future food centre and ‘The Hub’ centre for academic and industry stakeholders.

The project is expected to be completed by May 2019.