THE £13million Technium being built in Pembroke Dock will be open for business in October, Pembrokeshire County Council has confirmed.

A marketing drive to promote the facilities of the Cleddau Bridge Business Park centre to firms from the county and elsewhere, will take place in the coming months.

The Technium will focus on energy and have dedicated facilities for university research teams.

An electronics laboratory and a mechanical workshop will be included, as well as office accommodation.

Inward investment officer for the county council, Tony Streatfield, is currently responsible for planning the future operations of the Technium.

He told the Western Telegraph: "A few small innovative businesses have started to show some interest in the project which is good because it is just those kinds of firms we hope to attract.

"Encouraging companies to take advantage of the opportunities at the Technium will be a gradual process.

"By 2008 we expect to be using two thirds of the capacity."

He added: "The centre will primarily be an incubator facility for innovative, high tech, businesses, it will offer specialist advice and a network of contacts, with the academic support of university research facilities.

"Ultimately it will help lay down a more diverse, higher value economy in years to come."

The project is being funded by the Pembrokeshire Technium partnership - the county council, the Welsh Assembly regeneration fund, the University of Wales Swansea and the Welsh Development Agency - and £5.1 million of Objective One funding.