Research and Development

Watford, Hertfordshire and indeed the East of England as a whole is well-known for its excellence in research and development. Watford is located right in the middle of what is known as ‘the golden triangle’ – the area within London, Oxford and Cambridge which houses a cluster of businesses making exciting new scientific advances.

Several international renowned research centres are based around the town and wider county. The Building Research Establishment (BRE) is breaking new ground for the construction and fire industries, while leading work in the field of bio-sciences is taking place at nearby Rothamsted Research Station.

Pharmaceuticals is a particular strength, with pioneering research unfolding within the neighbouring Hertfordshire towns of Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City. There’s also leading edge research taking place within the private sector, with companies like GalaxoSmithKline, Roche and Schering Plough making the County of Hertfordshire their home.

Having so many R&D focused businesses in close proximity leads to a great deal of formal and informal sharing of knowledge, skills and technology. There are a number of initiatives designated specifically to help businesses learn from one another, but also many opportunities to network and find synergies with neighbouring companies.