That’s according to the results of a recent survey that sheds light on the perspectives, plans and priorities of businesses based at Plymouth Science Park.

The survey was conducted by Plymouth Science Park, and businesses from a range of sectors took part including Health Tech, IT, Marine, Advanced Engineering and Environmental.

Although 2020 was a tough year for businesses, 62% of respondents said that the year had on the whole been positive for their business. And the most popular business priority for 2021, cited by 76% of respondents was to grow their operations in 2021.

Fay Davies, Business Development Manager at Plymouth Science Park, said: “It’s fantastic to see such positive energy from our tenants at Plymouth Science Park. 2020 was a challenging year that saw the community at the park pull together in mutual support, despite being physically distanced. It’s great to see so many tenants looking to grow, collaborate and recruit locally in the coming months, and we look forward to supporting all of our tenants ambitions.”

A key trend highlighted by the survey is collaboration. 44% of surveyed businesses said they collaborated locally in 2020, with 20% having increased their level of collaboration compared to previous years. Looking ahead, a full 48% plan to collaborate more in 2021.

A number of collaborative projects were cited in the survey as goals for 2021, these include developing local supply chains, supporting local charities, growing local networks and working more closely with the University of Plymouth.

Ryan Goodwin of HealthTech firm EyeControl, which develops technological solutions that allow ventilated and locked-in patients to communicate, said: “2020 was a difficult year for so many, but we are optimistic for the future of EyeControl. We are committed to increasing our collaborations with local healthcare facilities this year. Plymouth Science Park is a really supportive environment with a strong culture of collaboration, and we’re surrounded by a great network of businesses. Through collaboration, we are hopeful that 2021 will prove a successful year for EyeControl and the Park tenants, businesses and charities we collaborate with.”

Despite the pandemic limiting social interaction, making traditional networking and training events difficult, businesses at Plymouth Science Park have been supported by monthly newsletters, social media campaigns which showcase projects and good news, as well as regular podcasts and webinars hosted by the Plymouth Science Park team to support tenants and the wider business community.

Despite a challenging year, the survey reveals that businesses at Plymouth Science Park remain optimistic and ambitious for the future.