BioCity is to set up a third site for for fledgling life science businesses.
It is to take over part of the AstraZeneca site at Alderley Edge in Cheshire after striking a deal with pharmaceutical group.
Astra Zeneca is moving around 1,600 staff from its Cheshire operations to a new drug research and development park in Cambridge.
BuioCity was set up in Nottingham ten years ago in the former Boots Pharmaceutical laboratories on Pennyfoot Street and today more than 600 people are employed by more than 70 small fledgling life science businesses which have based themselves there.
Astra Zeneca, by choosing BioCity as its manager, hopes the success can be copied in Cheshire with scientists choosing to set up their own firms.
Under the plans, a BioHub will be created at Alderley Park providing 36,000 sq ft of high-end laboratory and office facilities for early-stage and growing firms engaged in innovative drug discovery and development.
The first three tenant companies are due to move on site today.
The BioCity management team has worked with AstraZeneca since late 2012 looking at the feasibility of creating a specialist centre for the next generation of life science companies.
BioCity now has a presence in three of the main UK life science 'hot-spots' having established BioCity Nottingham in 2003 and BioCity Scotland in 2012.
The organisation has a strong track record of working with global pharmaceutical partners such as MSD, and now AstraZeneca, to bring about the transformation of highly-valuable sites and facilities as drug giants slim down.
Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly looking to small drug discovery companies for the next generation of medicines.
There is strong evidence to indicate that the clustering of life science businesses that BioCity engineers provides huge benefits to the companies and leads to greater success as well as opening up significant investment opportunities so adding value to the Notts and regional economy.
In addition to providing the BioHub laboratory and office accommodation, AstraZeneca is providing tenant firms access to restaurants, meeting rooms and conference facilities.
Firms will also be able to rent highly specialised technical equipment and services.
The first BioHub tenants to move on site include; Blueberry Therapeutics , Imagen Biotech and Redx Anti-Infectives, a subsidiary of Redx Pharma.
Dr Glenn Crocker, chief executive of BioCity Nottingham, has led the discussions with AstraZeneca.
He said: "We are delighted to have been chosen to advise and help establish the BioHub at Alderley Park.
"We bring many years of experience in developing thriving communities of successful life science companies and look forward to working closely with the AstraZeneca management team.
"I believe we now have a unique opportunity to build connections between tenant companies based at Alderley Park, Nottingham and Scotland which could ultimately transform the way life science innovation is achieved."
Clive Morris, AstraZeneca Vice President research & development, said: "I am confident that with BioCity's experience in this area, we can continue to seek further opportunities to attract future investment and build on the existing world class facilities available at Alderley Park."
