Going Topless to help revitalise manufacturing
Dec 2 2008 by Karen Dent, The Journal
REVOLUTIONARY lighting technology that could create hundreds of jobs and revitalise the North East’s manufacturing industry has won the backing of Regional Minister Nick Brown, who pledged to help turn that potential into reality.
The MP spoke to a packed conference in Sedgefield yesterday, where the solid state lighting being developed in County Durham was unveiled to the public – 130 years after Joseph Swan demonstrated the first incandescent light bulb to the Chemistry Society of Gateshead.
The Topless Project has already raised £3.3m and the launch yesterday aims to pull in up to £35m for the future development of the technology and the lighting industry in the North East. Mr Brown said: “I want to play my part in ensuring that this very exciting development remains something that our region can take pride in – not just in the invention but it bringing it to the marketplace.
“I will play my part in taking the idea forward and that a case is put as well as it can be. I will fight your corner – I think we may be on to a winner here!”
Project leader Dr Geoff Williams said yesterday’s event aimed to raise national awareness of the project, which is seeking Government and industry backing for its next phase.
This will either be a £7m-£9m stand alone lighting project to demonstrate its saleable opportunities or a larger scale £30m-£35m scheme looking to link the lighting with emerging security technologies.
The project, developed by Spennymoor’s Thorn Lighting, Durham University and other partners, is being hailed as a new dawn for the region’s manufacturers, although it will not hit the market for around 10 years. James Ramsbotham, chief executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: “The amount of opportunities could be absolutely phenomenal. It is potentially still on a 10-year time scale.
“The worldwide lighting market is likely to be around 10bn in the next decade and in the North East we could potentially grab 10% of that.”
County Durham’s mix of old and new manufacturing industries could benefit from the scheme – the only one of its kind in the UK. Known as the Topless Project – thin organic polymeric light emitting semiconductor surfaces – the environmentally-friendly lighting is emitted from slender strips of plastic and is powered by batteries or renewable energy.
Stewart Watkins, managing director of County Durham Development Company (CDDC), said: “This technology is going to catalyse the manufacturing sector in this region by bringing together electronic and traditional manufacturing. It puts County Durham at the epicentre of solid state lighting for the country.
“Without this type of new technology, the manufacturing sector which is already in some decline will continue to do so. We must look to our new technology coming out of our universities to deliver the products that will be in our homes, schools and hospitals.”
Dr Williams said the technology would put the North East on the global map. “This is only the beginning of the journey. The road is long but with the right people and the right organisation, that road will be very smooth and easily navigated,” he said.
