Science City sets up crack team to source innovators

Jul 2 2009 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

Mr Arnold said: “It’s early days and we are following up every lead that we get but a number of big companies have written back letters of interest to say what they are going to do with it.

“We have targeted the book accordingly and we have sent it to groups of people that are interested in the same areas.”

As part of the NSC’s drive towards creating new businesses through innovation, earlier this year saw the launch of Innovation Scout, by entrepreneurs Nick Devitt and David Townson.

The business aims to scour the world – and the internet – for problems which can be solved by inventions with commercial potential.

As well as providing NSC with investment, regeneration bosses recently set up a limited company, allowing Science City to work as a businesses instead of a public-sector partnership.

The board of Newcastle Science City Ltd is chaired by Paul Walker, chief executive of Sage plc, who has led Newcastle Science City’s development since its creation four years ago.

He is joined on the board by representatives from the founding partners for the initiative, including Alan Clarke, chief executive, One North East, Chris Brink, vice-chancellor, Newcastle University and Coun John Shipley, leader, Newcastle City Council.