SCIENCE and Innovation minister Lord Sainsbury has a date in Bolton on Monday, April 7, to perform the official opening ceremony for the £1.5 million i-zone at Bolton Institute -- 12 incubator units of different sizes which come with support packages for all stages of business development.

They will be used to help develop high growth, technology-based start-up businesses with a technical textile theme -- maunfacturing products for the aerospace, automotives, medicine and construction sectors.

The Institute, which has an international reputation in this field, has set up the Centre for Advanced Materials in the Eagle complex, off College Way.

Researchers work on the science and technology of textile and fibres with universities and leading technical textile companies.

Their expertise will be available to companies in the new i-zone. The zone will be managed by a joint venture company set up by Bolton Institute and Campus Ventures, a technology transfer business based in Manchester.

The i-zone opening day will also feature an exhibition, a series of speakers and a tour of the new facilities.