A DESIGN competition which could discover the business innovations of the future was launched in the region yesterday.

The Audi Foundation's Young Designer of the Year competition was unveiled at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.

Last year's winner, Robert Orford, of Merchant Taylor's School, Middlesex, was in the North-East to promote the launch.

His EZ Wheel wheelchair enhancement for giving increased mobility and greater independence for wheelchair users caught the judges' eyes.

An award called Mind to Market, which will be presented to the student who has come up with the most marketable product in the opinion of the judging panel, has been sponsored by one of the region's most innovative engineering design companies, Express Group.

Further information and an entry form can be downloaded from www.audidesignfoundation.org