A digital design for life
Nov 3 2009 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette
Established in 2007, the IDI is part of the DigitalCity project - a 25-year game-plan to create a world-leading super-cluster.
Since the project started in 2003, creative industries have mushroomed into a £1.17bn regional powerhouse employing 35,000 people, while creative firms in Tees Valley are set to generate more than 9,000 jobs in the next five years.
Digital media and the creative industries are a key strand of the Great North Revolution debate - launched by the Evening Gazette and the CBI to map out a strategy for growing the regional economy.
And last week development agency One North East unveiled a seven-year masterplan to inject £2bn into the regional economy by addressing the region’s digital shortcomings and encouraging smarter use of technology.
The commercial arm of the DigitalCity project, DigitalCity Business, has welcomed One North East’s stance and claims that the real power of the industry lies in its ability to add value to others.
Director Mark Elliott says: “We are moving towards a convergence of digital with other industries.
“Digital entrepreneurs will try a lot of things and some ideas won’t work. But those that do will bring massive rewards.”
Italian-born Gloria Ronchi and Claudio Benghi are hoping their lightbulb moment will illuminate the North-east landscape.
