NEWS25 June 2025
“There’s much to look back on with pride,” reflected Dr Malcolm Parry OBE on a recent return visit to Surrey Research Park ahead of June’s Surrey Showcase and innovation celebration.
Just over 40 years ago, Malcolm and colleague Dr Stephen Baker, were set a challenge by the University’s then Vice Chancellor, Professor Anthony Kelly; transform a plot of the university’s campus into a ‘science park’ for Surrey.
The new park would support links between the university and industry and business, creating revenue for the university, employment opportunities and facilities for spinouts.
To realise the then Vice Chancellor’s vision, Malcolm and Steve collaborated with a team of experts to scope out a masterplan and spearhead the transformation of 600,000 sq ft of farmland on the outskirts of Guildford into a thriving ‘science park’.
But while the university wanted to create ‘The Surrey Science Park’, according to Malcolm, council planners were not as keen on that title. They feared the new Park would become “a factory site”. Negotiations over the land use terms went back and forth. Finally, an agreement was reached; the Park should be used for “Research development and design in any science including social science and include low volume high manufacturing that was complementary to the activities of the University of Surrey”.
And so, Surrey Research Park was established.
In the years that followed, the Park rose to prominence as a thriving community for innovative businesses, inventors and entrepreneurs and a mirror of societal change and technological advancement.
The Early Years
Notably, in the late 1980s the Park was heralded by national ITV news – watched by tens of millions of people each evening – as the birthplace of the world’s smallest computer.
Around the same time, a pioneering University of Surrey spin-out microsatellite company – Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, moved from its office at Stag Hill to purpose-built laboratories, complete with ground stations, and engineering facilities.
Malcolm also witnessed the boom in computing, seeing game companies like Peter Molyneux’s Bullfrog flourish and contribute to Guildford’s reputation as the “UK’s Hollywood of Games.”
Bricks and Brains
Over the following years, thousands of people working at the forefront of science and technology would pass through the Park’s entrance.
Among them was Demis Hassabis – now Sir Demis, founder of Google’s DeepMind and knighted for his AI work. It was while working for Bullfrog games at the Park that he is believed to have taken the first steps towards developing commercial AI.
Global Impact
Malcolm believes the secret to the Park’s success is the “magnificent environment that has been created” with “landscaping and a range of buildings” designed to meet the needs of a wide range of businesses. He is especially proud of the Park’s global recognition.
“Surrey has been a very important lesson for many countries, particularly South Korea has benefited and across many other countries in Africa, where we’ve also provided support,” explained Malcolm.
