Progress in keeping east Kent the scientific capital of the UK has been outlined in a new report.

Set up by the government and made up of Pfizer executives, experts and local and national government figures, the findings come little over a year since drug maker Pfizer announced plans to exit its Sandwich site.

Since the announcement in February last year - set to cost the area more than 2,000 jobs - several reports have been produced looking at what needs to be done to limit the economic damage it will cause.

Sandwich Economic Task Force's One Year Report was handed to science minister David Willetts MP this week, outlining achievements made in the area so far.

So far around five start-up companies had been offered accelerator grants from a £200,000 pot set up to help with costs associated with setting up a small business at the Sandwich site, which is now being marketed as Discovery Park.

The report also details how the task force has secured millions of pounds of investment and what it has achieved so far in its goal of attracting new scientific businesses to the site.

This includes:

• Retaining or creating 800 jobs at Discovery Park - part of this follows Pfizer's decision to retain a presence on the Sandwich site of around 350 jobs of its original 2,400, plus new employment at Mylan, Peakdale and Unilabs.
• More than 12 start-up companies in development on site.
• Regional Growth Fund package of £35million investment to support business across east Kent.
• Graining Enterprise Zone designation.
• Setting up a flood defence package with £24million from Kent County Council, Pfizer and the Environment Agency agreed to secure long-term protection of the site.
• Accelerator grants of up to £20,000 for small companies.
• Securing high speed rail services with a £10million scheme to improve rail services from Sandwich. The ultimate plan is to reduce journey times to London to less than an hour.

Kent County Council Leader Cllr Paul Carter, who heads up the task force, said: "One year on, we can report solid progress.

"Pfizer has entered into a period of legal exclusivity with a potential new owner. The vision for Discovery Park is for a multiple use site with a core of research and development activity.

"Despite challenging economic times, I am confident that we have succeeded in our core objective: ensuring a bright future ahead for Sandwich."

Thanet South MP Laura Sandys said: "It was a really dark day for my constituents when Pfizer announced their planned exit. But with the Prime Minister's support, we were able to establish the Sandwich Task Force to galvanise all strands of Government.

"One year on, with the backing of Pfizer, local and national government, we have secured Enterprise Zone status, £40million Regional Growth Fund, flood defence funding and immediate start-up grants for new businesses in east Kent.

"With hundreds of jobs now secure and discussions with a potential new buyer for the site in advanced stages, what seemed like a disastrous day a year ago looks much more promising.

"There is a lot more to do, but we are on track and have demonstrated that Thanet and Sandwich have an economic future worth investing in and a skills-base that is attractive to any employer."