FIVE business leaders are to spearhead the region's £200m attempt to become a world beater in scientific research and development.

They will head up five centres of excellence in various fields, aiming to transform the economic fortunes of the North-East by creating high value jobs and encouraging technology-driven businesses.

Development agency One NorthEast announced the appointments yesterday.

One NorthEast chairman Dr John Bridge said: "The appointment of these five outstanding chief executives is a major coup and milestone for the region.

"The commercial exploitation of science lies at the heart of a new North-East. To compete with the world's best, we need to exploit the full talents and expertise that lie within our region's universities, research establishments and private sector firms."

The five will help take ideas and research from the region's universities and turn them into commercial opportunities for companies, giving them a competitive edge in an increasingly tight global marketplace.

Over the next five years, £200m from One NorthEast, the EU, university and private sector funding will be ploughed into helping the region become a leading player in scientific research and innovation as part of the agency's Strategy for Success.

The chief executives and their respective centres of excellence are Herbert Kim - digital technology and media, Doug Everard - new and renewable energy, Dr Fred Wright - life sciences, Dr Gerson Machado - nanotechnology, micro and photonic systems and Nigel Perry - process industries.