Angle Regulatory News (AGL)

12 Apr 2005 07:00

Angle PLC12 April 2005 For Immediate Release Tuesday 12 April 2005 ANGLE plc ANGLE Signs Three Year Management Contract with Qatar's Science & Technology Park ANGLE plc, the venture management and consulting company specialising in thecommercialisation of technology, is pleased to announce that it has beenappointed to manage Qatar's Science & Technology Park ("STP") until March 2009. ANGLE will provide the Qatar Foundation, owner of the Science & Technology Parkin Doha, with a specialised project team, supported by additional staffresources from Europe and the US. The team is charged with ensuring theeffective establishment and operation of the STP, which will be the emerginginternational hub of research and commercialisation in the Middle East. ANGLE will be responsible for leadership on strategic and operationalactivities, management of technology transfer issues, the development of STP'sphysical presence and external profile, as well as programs supporting Qatar'sdevelopment and commercialisation of technology. The value of the contract isover £6 million over the 3 year term. Qatar Foundation's Science & Technology Park aims to be an internationallocation for the development and commercialisation of technology. Part of theone thousand hectare Education City campus in Doha, it is a place wherecompanies can develop their intellectual property and deliver it to themarketplace; where research institutes undertake collaborative R&D; and whereentrepreneurs create and grow start-up technology companies. STP will host companies from a range of sectors and sizes: multinational andlocal companies, start-ups, training and consulting firms, and researchinstitutes. Multinational companies EADS, ExxonMobil, Microsoft, Shell and Totalhave already announced their intention to establish operations at STP. Theyjoin world-class Universities on the campus: Texas A&M University (engineering),Carnegie Mellon (computer science and business), Weill Cornell (medicine) andVirginia Commonwealth University (design). His Excellency Dr Abdulla Al Kubaisi, Chairman of STP and member of the QatarFoundation Board of Directors, commented: "Over the past fifteen months Qatar Foundation has been impressed with ANGLE'sperformance to date in getting Qatar's Science & Technology Park off the ground.We are very confident they will continue this success over the coming years." Andrew Newland, Chief Executive of ANGLE, said: "I am delighted that ANGLE has been selected to deliver the next critical phaseof STP's development. This is an important milestone for our company, placingus at the centre of one of the world's most ambitious technologycommercialisation projects. We will be leading the research andcommercialisation process in Qatar through a raft of STP programmes includingthe creation and growth of new technology companies, establishment of a venturecapital fund, and development of an entrepreneurship training and mentoringprogram. We are pleased to be working with such a high calibre Board ofGovernors." For further information ANGLE plc +44 (0)1483 295830Andrew Newland, Chief ExecutiveDawson Buck, Deputy Chief Executive Buchanan Communications +44 (0)20 7466 5000Richard Darby, James Strong Notes to Editors ANGLE Founded in 1994, ANGLE is an international venture management and consultingcompany focusing on the commercialisation of technology and the development oftechnology-based industry. ANGLE creates, develops and advises technologybusinesses on its own behalf and for its clients. ANGLE is listed on AIM(AGL.L); further information can be found on www.ANGLEplc.com STP Qatar Foundation's Science & Technology Park is creating the ideal environmentin which to develop and commercialise technology. It provides world-classfacilities and services for companies from around the globe, and is fosteringstart-up technology enterprises. Located in Qatar's renowned Education City,STP tenants have access to the region's leading research universities and theirhighly educated graduates. STP will also be one of Qatar's first free-tradezones, making it easy and attractive to set up a wholly-owned company in thecountry. By encouraging local technology development, STP is creatingopportunities for the region's scientists and entrepreneurs, and leading toinnovations that will benefit its industry and society. www.stp.org.qa Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned has appointed an internationalBoard of Governors to the STP chaired by His Excellency Dr Abdulla Al Kubaisi,Director of the Office of Her Highness, Member of the Qatar Foundation Board ofDirectors. Its other members are Professor Sir Graeme Catto, President of theGeneral Medical Council in the UK, Pro Vice-Chancellor University of London,Vice-Principal King's College London, Dean of Guy's, King's and St Thomas'Medical and Dental Schools; Ms Dinah Adkins, President and CEO of the NationalBusiness Incubation Association in the USA; Ms Jill R Felix, former Presidentand CEO of University Science Center in the Philadelphia, USA; Mr Khalid Mannai,Chairman Mannai Corporation, Qatar; Dr Charles Young, President QatarFoundation, formerly President University of Florida and Chancellor ofUniversity of California Los Angeles. THE QATAR FOUNDATION for Education, Science & Community Development is aprivate, non profit, chartered organization, founded in 1995 by His HighnessSheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar, and chaired by Her HighnessSheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned. The Foundation's flagship project isEducation City, a 2,500-acre campus on the outskirts of Doha which hosts branchcampuses of four of the world's leading research universities, as well as QatarScience and Technology Park and the RAND-Qatar Policy Institute. Soon it willinclude a specialty teaching hospital and a world-class convention centre. Formore information on the Qatar Foundation and its projects, please visitwww.qf.org.qa. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange