Element Six, a global leader in synthetic diamond supermaterials, announced on 8 May that the company will invest £20 million constructing the world’s largest and most sophisticated synthetic supermaterials research and development facility in Harwell Oxford.

Once complete in Spring 2013, the new state-of-the-art innovation centre will create around 50 new science jobs, with the vast majority of positions available for highly qualified graduate scientists, engineers and physicists. It will also reinforce Element Six’s position as a world-leader in synthetic diamond research and consolidate Element Six’s global R&D teams into one integrated centre.

UK Trade & Investment supported Element Six by proposing and advising on potential locations, organising site visits, facilitating meetings with site owners and developers, preparing bespoke research and bringing in the expertise in the councils, Local Enterprise Partnerships, academic institutions and research partners.

The Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, said:

“The investment by Element Six, that will bring a world class research and development facility to Harwell Oxford, shows that the UK is a great place for innovative and cutting edge industries to invest. Along with a real boost to the local economy, providing around 50 new highly skilled engineering jobs, the investment shows that the Oxford region is a world leading location for hi-tech research, and that the UK is open for business.”

Cyrus Jilla, Element Six CEO commented:

“I am proud we selected the UK as the best location globally for our Innovation Centre. I am positive it will deliver higher performance products for our customers, disruptive technologies for new applications and markets, inspire and spur new related businesses in the UK, and provide an extremely rewarding environment for our scientists who are at the forefront of their field.”

Dave Waller from Invest in Oxfordshire added:

“Invest in Oxfordshire is pleased to welcome Element Six to the County and the Science Vale Enterprise Zone. We look forward to helping the company develop and grow in the area and utilise the significant local research capabilities and the world-class skills within our two Universities.”

Harwell Oxford is being developed by a joint venture between international property group Goodman, the UK Atomic Energy Authority and the Science and Technology Facilities Council.

Jim Johnston, Goodman UK Managing Director, said:

“We are delighted that Element Six has chosen Harwell Oxford as the location for its new global research and innovation centre. The new development will further enhance Harwell Oxford’s reputation as a world class hub for science, technology and business, and we look forward to working with Element Six to deliver this exciting facility.”

Element Six was recently awarded a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation in the UK for the synthetic diamond speaker dome used in the Bowers & Wilkins 800 Diamond Series loudspeakers.

Other innovative uses of Element Six synthetic diamond include optics to enable the highest power levels achievable in CO2 lasers for automotive engineering, as semiconductors in the Large Hadron Collider, as detectors in medical radiotherapy, as cutters for the fastest rates of penetration in oil and gas drilling, and to enable picks used during road re-surfacing and repair to last up to 40 times longer than standard road picks.