GlaxoSmithKline and Nottingham University launch sustainable lab

GlaxoSmithKline and the University of Nottingham have agreed to create a new carbon-neutral laboratory for sustainable chemistry.

The agreement will see an environmentally-friendly facility established on the university's Jubilee Campus using a 12 million pound grant from GlaxoSmithKline, offering a new centre of excellence for the sustainable chemistry field.

Focusing on studies with relevance to the pharmaceutical industry, the site will act as a global hub for collaborations with other universities and industrial partners, while also offering advanced undergraduate teaching and outreach to the wider community.

Additionally, the sustainable operating model and design of the building will help GlaxoSmithKline's long-term strategy of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.

Sir Andrew Witty, chief executive officer of GlaxoSmithKline, said: "This is an opportunity to invest further in science in the UK, rethink how we approach the drug discovery process and play a role in contributing to environmental stewardship."

The company announced last month that it will be creating up to 1,000 new jobs in the UK through additions to its biopharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities over the next few years.