A MAJOR milestone in the drive to turn a North-East science park into a world leading technology hub, creating thousands of spin-off jobs, was reached yesterday when three key organisations signed a pledge to work together.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by County Durham Development Company (CDDC), Durham University and the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) should not only ensure scientific breakthroughs made in the region can be developed here, but also attract inward investment to the North-East Under the agreement, the trio will form a group working together to further drive forward the North-East Technology Park (NETPark).

And appropriately, it was signed on the first piece of thin film, plated with gold, produced at the new CPI managed Printable Electronics Technology Centre on the site.

The £9.5m centre has been created as the UK “headquarters”

to commercialise the technology, which would remove the need for masses of wiring, instead allowing circuits to be printed onto a film no thicker than a sheet of paper.

NETPark scientific director Professor John Anstee said: “We have the opportunity here to grow a major research site, which should allow these technologies to spin out and create manufacturing companies that utilise the technology.

This, hopefully, will create large job opportunities.

“The Research Triangle Park, in Durham, North Carolina, which employs about 40,000 people, has transformed the economy of the US state. It has taken years to achieve, but it is one of the most significant science parks in the world.

“If we can replicate that by combining business, university and the public bodies such as CDDC and regional development agency One North- East, that is exactly the model that worked there.”

Managed and developed by CDDC, Durham County Council’s business support arm, the site near Sedgefield first opened in 2004 with the NETPark Research Institute, which was leased to Durham University.

CDDC managing director Stewart Watkins said NETPark was important because it allowed research and innovation, such as that developed by Durham University and the CPI, to be commercialised and manufactured in the region.

Independent studies have shown it could create more than 10,000 jobs.

Mr Watkins said: “The importance of the group is that we now have the world class research skills of Durham University, along with a world-leading facility for printable electronics on site, together with CDDC’s intention for Netpark to be a major driver for economic development in the region.”

CPI chief executive Nigel Perry said: “If you think where NETPark has got itself to in a short time, it is already pretty impressive – so, in three or four years’ time, imagine what it will be like.”

He added: “CPI sees NETPark as being a vital and important component in the drive to establish a major technology driven cluster across the North-East.”

Professor Chris Higgins, vice-chancellor of Durham University, said: “It is very important as it brings together the three key stakeholders in NETPark, Durham University, CPI and CDDC, all committed to further development of Netpark.

“We already have a lot of employees on this site and its location means we are only 15 minutes from our two campuses at Durham and Stockton.”

He added: “By helping NETPark to grow, we aim to ensure that our national and international influence brings maximum benefit to County Durham and the wider region.”

The MoU will see a stakeholder group set up to help the partners promote and encourage the following:

● The commercialisation of scientific, engineering and technology research, including spin-out companies and technology transfer into existing businesses.

● Inward investment by established organisations, both national and international.

● Public understanding of science and technology.

● Scientific research and development as a career opportunity.

● An enhanced profile for NETPark, regionally, nationally and internationally.

An example of NETPark’s success so far can be seen by Durham University’s spin out Centre for Advanced Instrumentation, which was one of the first organisations on the site.

It makes instruments for telescopes that are not only used around the world but also in space. Durham University is also the leading university in Europe for space science.