The £13m Health and Wellbeing Innovation Centre based at the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust site in Truro was officially opened today.

Operated by Plymouth University on behalf of Cornwall Council, the Health and Wellbeing Innovation Centre (HWIC) aims to support up to 70 businesses and create more than 80 new jobs.

Eight clients have already moved into the centre since mid-January, including Spiezia Organics, an award winning skincare product company; Active Plus and CG Therapy - two enterprises working with ex-service personnel suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

The HWIC is the third innovation centre in Cornwall, all operated by Plymouth University on behalf of Cornwall Council. The others are the Pool Innovation Centre (PIC), opened in July 2010, and the Tremough Innovation Centre (TIC), opened January 2012.

The cash came from £10 million of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Convergence investment and more than £3.3 million from Cornwall Council.

“I am delighted to see the completion of this pioneering project that will create high-value, highly-skilled jobs in this exciting sector of the Cornish economy”, said Carolyn Rule, the council’s portfolio holder for health 

Dr Paul Upton, Medical Director at the Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust, said "Having the Health and Well-being Innovation Centre on our doorstep offers great scope for collaboration between fledgling health and well-being businesses, healthcare experts from our hospitals and indeed, patients who can benefit from the products and services being developed. The superb facilities are sure to attract a wealth of local talent, helping to put Cornwall firmly on the map in healthcare innovation."