CPI chief welcomes Government recognition

Mar 26 2008 Evening Gazette

GOVERNMENT recognition of the world-leading role Teesside plays in stimulating innovation in the process sector has been welcomed by a research chief.

Nigel Perry, who heads up the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) at Wilton, which celebrates its fourth birthday on Teesside next week, said he was surprised and delighted that the centre had been mentioned in the recent White Paper on Science and Innovation.

“People say how can Teesside contribute to the world of polymer electronics or biotechnology - the answer is CPI. Teesside is getting its act together; it’s starting to feel good,” said Mr Perry.

But he warned Britain had to run fast to keep up with the research-hungry economies of Asia.

Last week, the Centre moved forward on a deal with a major public sector client in Singapore and Mr Perry said it had an ‘ambitious strategy’ that would take it into Japan and Korea, looking in particular at applying its expertise in fuel cell technology to transport systems.

Mr Perry said the crucial role that innovation played in technology and business development had been overshadowed in the past by government support for pure research, but it was no longer the Cinderella to academic institutes.

“What has encouraged me in the White Paper is that they have recognised the technical push argument is only half the story; there’s a demand pull as well. The level of research the universities have is exceptional. We have to work with them to commercialise what they are doing.”

He said there were “a number of drivers in the private sector, which will make them want to invest in innovation projects”. But he also predicted that where projects required debt, those would be delayed.

“That said, no one has whispered in my ear that there’s a problem - very much the opposite. We are seeing more future funding committed to projects. But one of the things we have to be aware of is that the private sector has choice.

“The process sector is significantly international. The message we need to get out is that we are among the best of anyone they could work with, anywhere in the world.”