A SCIENCE campus in southern Oxfordshire has been given permission to expand by the Science Minister.

In a visit to the county yesterday Sam Gyimah announced more space at the Culham Science Campus will be created to house high-tech businesses and scientists. The move could create 200 new jobs in the area.

Already home to around 60 companies working in fusion technology and related fields, the expansion is needed because the site is currently full.

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Managed by the UK Atomic Energy Authority, Culham has seen several world-leading science projects since 1983, including the European JET fusion experiment – the hottest place in the solar system.

Science Minister Sam Gyimah said: “From fusion energy, to software for driverless cars, to air-breathing rocket engines, this site is engineering some of the most exciting science in the world.

“The UK is an innovation powerhouse and with science and tech experts moving here, thriving here and growing their businesses here, it’s a vote of confidence in UK science industry.

“We are committed to attracting and retaining both homegrown and international talent and will keep supporting international collaboration as we tackle the grand challenges of tomorrow and build a Britain fit for the future.”