A Midland university has signed a deal with a construction firm to start work on building a new £10.1 million centre in a bid to boost the region's science and technology industry.
The University of Wolverhampton has appointed Clegg Construction to build its Science, Technology and Prototyping Centre, which will be the base for up to 40 new businesses which specialise in the industry.
Set to be built at the university's science park, the three-storey development will cover 43,055 sq ft of space and will offer state-of-the-art facilities with high specification laboratories, workshops and offices - not currently available in the Black Country.
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The project has been part-funded through a £4.8 million grant from the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership as part of the Growth Deal while the remaining £5.3 million has been invested by the university itself.
The university's science park is currently home to more than 80 businesses employing more than 500 people and working across a broad range of technological and creative disciplines.
Opened in 1995 as a joint venture between the university and Wolverhampton City Council, the site has benefited from two previous expansions in 2000 and 2004.
Clegg is also working in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter which is due to open next week.
Nigel Babb, commercial director at the science park, said: "It's great to have a construction company on board for this exciting project.
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"Work is due to start on the new development early this year and we expect the centre to be fully operational by summer 2017."
Simon Blackburn, managing director at Nottingham-based Clegg Construction, said: "We were really pleased to win the contract to deliver such an exciting redevelopment programme in the Black Country.
"We provide a range of construction services for the public and private industries and have a strong track record along with substantial experience of working in the education sector.
"We are committed, as part of the contract, to offering real work experience opportunities for apprentices and students currently studying at the university."