An £8m project designed to create hundreds of hi-tech jobs has taken another step forward with the turn of a screw.

A topping-out ceremony at the new Medway Innovation Centre took place on Wednesday to mark the countown to completion early next year.

The centre will specialise in national security technology and is the second part of a three-phase project that aims to make Medway a hi-tech hub and create 2,000 jobs by 2016. Some 200 jobs are expected to be created by the new centre.

Wearing a hard hat and reflective jacket, Cllr Jane Chitty, Medway council’s portfolio holder for strategic development and economic growth, climbed a platform to tighten a roofing nut and bolt with an adjustable spanner to mark what she called an historic moment.

"It is an exciting day, a dream come true," she said. "This project is about the economy and well-being of Medway. For me this is the fulfilment of many years’ work and it’s an acknowledgement of people who have been so supportive."

Cllr Chitty admitted that no tenants had so far signed up to the new complex, which is being built by Aylesford-based Kier South East, but she said there had been a lot of interest.

It will feature offices, meeting rooms and a 75-seat conference suite named after Cllr Chitty. The Jane Chitty Conference Suite will be open to any Medway business.

Philomena Lavery, the centre’s managing director, said: "The project isn’t about an office building, it’s about becoming a part of the Medway knowledge economy and hopefully one day it will give birth to a new Microsoft."

"We really want it to be a place where entrepreneurs can come and mingle, have lunch and get to know each other."

The project is backed by Medway council, the universities of Kent and Greenwich, BAE Systems and the Royal Bank of Scotland. Funding has come from Medway council (£4.7m). the Government and other sources.