EARLIER this month, County Durham Development Company (CDDC), played host to Interprise 2001, the last one to be funded by the European Community.

The event was themed Technologies for the Future and was one of the biggest business-to-business partnering events to take place in the region.

It was designed to help small and medium sized businesses in the North-East establish new contacts with companies, large and small, working in knowledge-based industries around the globe.

The event, held at County Hall in Durham City, attracted more than 300 delegates and companies from 20 economic regions worldwide, including, for the first time, representatives from China.

It was officially opened by Peter Carr, chairman of CDDC and councillor Don Robson, leader of the council. Also in attendance were MEP Stephen Hughes and Hans Schoof from the European Community Directorate General (Enterprise).

Speaking at the opening of the event, Mr Hughes said: "Interprise, and this event in particular, is one of the most wonderful illustrations of the European Union at work, helping to forge partnerships and the transference of ideas to wherever they can succeed within the European Union.

"An event like this allows transference of ideas and experiences. You may have experienced things that we may not have, and we may have gone through learning curves that are new to you.

"We can transfer possible solutions to the problems that we are grappling with. I'm sure you will all take away a great deal from this event."

He added: "CDDC must be congratulated not only for staging this event, but for the way in which it has forged partnerships over the years, within and beyond this region, pulling together the wisdom to address the very deep problems that we face.

"We can't realise our opportunities alone, it needs to be done in partnership, and I think the people of this part of the North-East have been well served by the partnerships that have developed in this region.

"This event is a good example of the delivery of some of the ideas of the European Union, with its focus on making Europe the most dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, making sure no one is left out of that vision."

More than 2,000 business-to-business meetings took place during the two days of the event, as companies from various nations got together to discuss possible partnerships.

Sectors covered by the meetings and the exhibition, included scientific innovation, medical technology, biotechnology, IT and software, new materials, science, nano-industries and business support services.

Phil Eadon, project director for the event, stressed its global importance.

He said: "The data from the event is still being analysed, but we would hope that Interprise 2001 made a major contribution to the development of the knowledge-based industries, regionally, nationally and internationally.

"We certainly showcased County Durham as a fantastic place for these types of industries to set up and do business, while simultaneously encouraging meetings and debates among the trade delegates from 20 economic regions around the world."

From Europe, international partners at the event included chambers of commerce and development agencies from Belgium, Germany, Holland, Spain and Finland.

China was represented by a delegations from Jiangsu Province and the Council for the Promotion of International Trade in Changzhou City.

The US was represented by delegations from the states of Florida, Indiana, Michigan and North Carolina, while Canada's flag was flown by a delegation from the Durham region of the state of Ontario.

Mr Eadon said: "By creating this worldwide melting pot of technological expertise, we hope that technology businesses from the North-East and beyond met delegates who can help them take their ideas and innovations forward to create world-beating products.

"For us at CDDC and Durham County Council, Interprise 2001 was certainly a showcase event. It emphasised the success we continue to have in making the world sit up and take notice of a county in which an increasing number of businesses and organisations are keen to do business."