FOREIGN firms want to move to a new £100million Glasgow science park which could create hundreds of new jobs.

Talks are being held with several European science and technology companies about establishing a Scottish base in a hi-tech city centre office block being built for businesses operating in the expanding renewables sector.

The news came as the first images were released of the new £10million building named inovo – an abbreviation of innovation – which is expected to be finished by July.

It is located in the City Science Park being developed opposite the former Evening Times building in Albion Street not far from High Street and George Square and which could generate 1600 new jobs for Glasgow.

Offering high-grade office space across five floors, inovo is funded by Scottish Enterprise which describes it as an "industry engagement" building.

It's specifically for tenants who want to collaborate with scientists at the adjacent Strathclyde University and other key sector businesses to drive forward Scotland's renewable energy sector.

The building has already been marketed in the UK and promoted to companies based across Europe and elsewhere after Scottish Enterprise hired property consultants GVA as letting agents.

The top floor is to be used as the UK HQ of the new Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult which aims to become a world-leading hub of expertise in the development of innovative technologies for offshore renewable energy generated by wind, tidal and wave power.

And there are encouraging signs that other floors will also be snapped up soon.

Alison Taylor, a Glasgow-based GVA director, said: "The building is already attracting interest from a variety of companies, which extend beyond Scotland and the UK to Europe."

City Science Park is located within Glasgow's International Renewable Energy & Technology Zone.

gordon.thomson@eveningtimes.co.uk