The new centres will enable cutting edge research in computer modelling - valuable to understand and predict issues from climate change variability to how cells interact in the body, and sensor development - for use in security systems and biomedical imaging.

Science and Innovation Minister, Ian Pearson stated: "The Government is committed to developing Daresbury as a major international centre of expertise in science and innovation. Today’s announcement is proof that the future for the site is an exciting one. Computational science and engineering is now indispensable to the solution of complex problems in every sector. This ranges from traditional science and engineering domains to such key areas as national security, public health and economic innovation."

In addition to providing world-class facilities to conduct research, the two new centres, which will be known as the Hartree Centre - computational modelling - and Detector Systems Centre - sensor development, also plan to actively commercialise the findings they generate - working closely with the North West Regional Development Agency and businesses to develop the commercial applications of the various research areas.