A WORLD-CLASS Runcorn science centre has teamed up with a network of experts.

Sci-Tech Daresbury has welcomed Grant Thornton, IBM, Marks & Clerk, RTC North, Slater Heelis and the University of Liverpool as gold partners for the coming year.

These companies will offer high-level strategic support in areas such as intellectual property, financial and tax management, corporate finance and funding, legal services, scientific research and cloud solutions.

The partners will provide the 120 companies based at the science and innovation campus with access to specialist skills and advice through events, roundtable seminars and one-to-one advice.

John Downes, managing director of Langtree and member of the Sci-Tech Daresbury joint venture board, said: “The high-growth businesses we have here require access to very specific, high level expertise and technical facilities.

“We are delighted to have the six on board. We’re confident that their varied areas of expertise and contacts will prove hugely valuable.”

RTC North, which specialises in the commercialisation of new products and services and the University of Liverpool will access to technical facilities and expertise as well as student talent.

Grant Thornton’s dedicated technology and innovation practice has an enviable track record of working with successful and dynamic companies, at all stages of their business life cycle, and will advise businesses to help them realise their ambitions for growth through areas including audit and tax advice, financial planning and commercialisation of intellectual property.

IBM will support businesses that are part of the wider Sci-Tech Daresbury community to extend their reach and opportunity for establishing contacts and increase sales of their products and solutions to as wide an audience as possible.

Marks & Clerk, patent and trade mark attorneys, will provide companies with intellectual property advice, identifying, protecting and defending their innovations and brands both in the UK and globally.

RTC North specialise in the commercialisation of new products and services and works with individuals, businesses and the public sector to help create more innovative and vibrant economies.

Slater Heelis LLP will provide legal services focusing on corporate structures and incorporation, corporate governance and directors’ duties, mergers, acquisitions and capital markets, development capital, venture capital and angel investment, joint ventures, commercial contracts, intellectual property licensing and transfer, real estate transactions, employment law, dispute resolution and estate planning.