UNIVERSITIES in the North-East are being brought on board to help engineers and manufacturers maximise their business potential.

An event is held in Washington tomorrow showing how academics and businessmen and women can work together better.

Knowledge House, an organisation dedicated to helping businesses tap into the world-beating skills and facilities of the region's centres of academic excellence, has organised the event.

"Universities are full of leading edge experts and graduates eager to make their mark in the world, as well as the most advanced equipment you can find," said Mark Jackson, business development director for Knowledge House.

"So it makes sense to bring them together with businesses in the region who want to be ahead of the game and especially for engineers and manufacturers who need to compete in a global marketplace."

Organised in conjunction with the North East Chamber of Commerce, the Knowledge House seminar takes place at the George Washington Golf and Country Club, Stone Cellar Road, High Usworth, Washington, on Wednesday, April 16, from 11.30am to 1.30pm.

Knowledge House is a joint venture between the universities of Durham, Newcastle, North-umbria, Sunderland, Teesside and the Open University in the North, which has helped more than 500 companies access the expertise and resources available within those universities.