First tenant sealed for Dundee Michelin innovation park but others delayed by Covid

The innovation park founded to regenerate the former Michelin tyre factory site in Dundee today welcomed its first tenant.

Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc, a joint venture between the French tyre giant, Dundee City Council and Scottish Enterprise, aims to drive growth and diversity in the Scottish economy while addressing the global climate challenge. Michelin announced the closure of its Dundee factory two years ago this month.

Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP) – a joint venture between the French tyre giant, Dundee City Council and Scottish Enterprise – aims to drive “growth and diversity” in the Scottish economy while addressing the global climate challenge.

The first tenant, MEP Technologies, designs and manufactures high-tech battery systems for portable industrial storage and automotive electric vehicle systems. It has relocated from its existing Dundee premises to accommodate the growth of its business and plans to create up to ten jobs at the site over the next two years.

In addition to the first tenant company, MSIP is in “advanced stages of discussions” with several other companies in low carbon industries and anticipates further tenants within the next 12 months. These firms could create an additional 200 jobs at the park.

Two previously announced companies that had reached provisional agreements to locate at MSIP in July – Arcola Energy and Low Emissions Resources Global – have been delayed by the fallout from the pandemic but anticipate a move in spring/summer 2021.

Michelin announced the closure of its Dundee factory two years ago. To date, nearly 800 former Michelin Dundee staff have found new employment, with 43 people still seeking new roles.

Greig Coull, chief executive of MSIP, said: “Today’s announcement of our first tenant at MSIP is a big mark of progress for us, on what marks the two-year anniversary of the announcement to close the Michelin Dundee factory.”

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