STAFF, students and researchers at Exeter University welcomed a member of the royal family as she visited the campus to formally open a new building.

Princess Anne officially opened the university's Innovation Centre Phase II in a ceremony attended by more than 100 local and regional representatives.

The princess spent time visiting a number of companies based at the building and spoke to researchers during her visit.

Her visit came as the Echo's Exeter Bites Back campaign continues to highlight positive news about the local economy.

University chancellor Dr Floella Benjamin said: "It was marvellous to mark the significance of the opening of the Innovation Centre Phase II with a wonderful celebration graced by the Princess Royal.

"The centre will be of enormous benefit to the economy of Exeter and the South West region, providing support and facilities for high-tech, high growth businesses and attracting the brightest and the best to the area."

The Innovation Centre is a multi-million pound development providing units, purpose designed for high-tech businesses undertaking research and development.

The centre offers new and growing companies within the research and development sector access to business advice, academic expertise and courses, as well as student and graduate projects.

Companies at the centre span a wide range of industry sectors, including biomedics, biosciences, environment, software, advanced manufacturing and the internet.

Phase I of the centre was completed in 2000 and the second phase of development was completed in February 2008.

The Princess visited the Greenpeace research laboratory and the research arm of Renishaw Plc. She also met the director of the NHS foetal anomaly screening programme which has its testing laboratory at the centre.

A university spokeswoman said: "Princess Anne made a short speech talking about the importance of the knowledge-based economy in the South West and how the innovation centre is helping those types of companies.

"She spent lots of time speaking to each of the tenants and seemed genuinely interested in the work being undertaken."

The princess was greeted by Councillor John Rawlinson, chairman of Devon County Council, Philip Bostock, chief executive of Exeter City Council, Exeter's Lord Mayor Councillor Paul Smith and the Lady Mayoress, Susan Smith and Dr Benjamin

Once inside the Innovation Centre, the princess was joined by Vice Chancellor Professor Steve Smith, David Allen, the university registrar, Sir Harry Studholme, Jane Henderson of the South West Regional Development Agency and Dr Robin Jackson, director of the Innovation Centre.