AN initiative to attract millions of pounds of business and technology-based investment to the North-East and create thousands of jobs was launched yesterday.

Sunderland Software City is hailed as an initiative involving business, academia and the public sector, which will make the city and the region a leading 21st Century destination.

International businesses and potential investors within the IT and telecommunications industries have already given their backing to the idea, and preliminary discussions have taken place regarding future inward investment and partnership work.

Sunderland University, which has a nationally-renowned school of technology and computing, will be the hub of the project.

The city has been given international recognition for its commitment to technology and its high-quality facilities, and was named one of the top seven global "intelligent communities" by the Intelligent Communities Forum.

At an event to launch Software City yesterday at the E-volve Business Centre at Rainton Bridge Business Park, Tyne and Wear, speakers included university chancellor Lord Puttnam and Bob Symonds, leader of Sunderland City Council.

Councillor Symonds said: "The council has, in partnership with the private sector, been working hard to develop a world-class infrastructure of telecommunications and business premises. This has already attracted business.

"New buildings like the E-volve Business Centre demonstrate why the city has been voted one of the top seven global intelligent communities."

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