PRIME MINISTER Tony Blair yesterday launched a pioneering science and industry initiative aimed at turning cutting-edge research into commercial developments and creating jobs.

The Science and Industry Council will lead to ideas and inventions created in the region's universities and research laboratories creating more business and ultimately jobs for the area.

Mr Blair told guests at the launch, held at Samsung electronics company's complex near his Sedgefield constituency: "Let science tell us the facts and we will use our judgement and values on how to use those facts.

"At every level, the most important thing is to get the message across that science does matter.

"It's crucial to our economic prosperity, our environment and how we protect our world."

Mr Blair said: "The tie-up between the academic world and business world is the link that is going to provide the means for translating many of these ideas. This is a very important step forward and we will be there with you as partners in this project."

The initiative will enable leading figures from the business and academic worlds to join forces to explore scientific benefits.

The work will centre around digital technology and media, life sciences, nanotechnology, new and renewable energy and process industries.

One of the council's first key moves will be to set up five new centres of excellence and The North Science and Technology Application Resource (NorthStar) - a company to accelerate the process of commercialising discoveries and inventions in universities.

The NorthStar will provide experts to help identify commercial possibilities, markets, customers and funding, and handle patents and other aspects of intellectual property rights. This will leave academics more time for actual research.

The council will promote the North-East on an international stage as the place to conduct scientific research and enterprise.

One NorthEast chairman Dr John Bridge said: "This is the first day of a new era for the North-East. This is a major milestone for One NorthEast and the region. Science and its commercial exploitation lie at the heart of the new North-East.

"To compete with the best in the world, we need to exploit to the full the talents and expertise that lie within our regional universities and research establishments.