TWO cutting-edge research bases in the region are rivals for a £20m funding boost, under David Cameron's "go for growth" strategy unveiled yesterday.

The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), at NETPark, County Durham, is in line to become part of a network of elite 'Technology and Innovation Centres' (TICs), to ensure bold ideas get from "drawing board to the market place".

It boasts the Printable Electronics Technology Centre (PETEC), as well as developing advanced manufacturing technologies in energy, high value chemicals, carbon capture and pharmaceuticals.

The prime minister pledged a total of £200m for around ten TICs - probably one in each region - where hi-tech firms will be given help to develop world-class scientific research.

Sources suggested the only rival to get the nod in the North-East was the New and Renewable Energy Centre (Narec), in Blyth, Northumberland, which leads the country in developing low-carbon energy sources.

In a high-profile speech to the CBI, Mr Cameron pointed to the technology centres as proof of his government's commitment to "helping to bridge the gap between innovation and commercial success".

And he said: "The fact is that we are not as good as some of our competitors in turning great ideas on the drawing board into prototypes in a laboratory and actual goods and services people can buy.

"These centres will sit between universities and businesses, bringing the two together.

"They won't just carry out their own in-house research, they will spread knowledge too connecting businesses - large and small, new and old - to potential new technologies, making them aware of funding streams and providing access to skills and equipment."

However, Labour quickly pointed out that many TICs had already been set up while it was in power, enjoying £150m of funding over the last two years.

Between 2002 and 2010, the two North-East research centres received £112m of funding through the doomed One North East development agency. The breakdown was; CPI (£56.5m) and Narec (£55.6m).

The only differences in yesterday's announcement appeared to be a speeding up of future funding for TICs - £200m over four years, instead of ten - and a hint that some TICs would be merged to create ten across England.

John Denham, Labour's business spokesman, said: "Today's flimsy re-announcement of existing plans shows just how big a gamble the Tories are taking with their plan to cut one million jobs across private and public sectors."

But Mr Cameron's "relentless" push for growth won plaudits from Richard Lambert, the CBI's director general, who said: "The prime minister demonstrated a real passion for business and an understanding that only business will create growth."

The prime minister also published a 'national infrastructure plan', designed to lever in £200bn of investment from the public and private sectors, which included developing North-East ports for offshore wind.