Standing at new stage in development

Nov 27 2008 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

The Journal’s new Science & Technology supplement is sponsored by the organisation charged by Durham County Council with encouraging innovation and strategic investment in County Durham. Here, County Durham Development Company’s managing director Stewart Watkins explains why he believes the supplement provides an ideal fit with CDDC’s remit.

WE want to see innovative companies throughout County Durham able to grow, develop and exploit the full potential of a knowledge intensive-friendly business environment.

We’ve given that desire a real physical embodiment by driving forward, on behalf of Durham County Council, the development of NETPark – the North East Technology Park at Sedgefield. The centre-spread of this supplement will tell you more about what we see as the true significance for the region of NETPark and our newest initiative, NETPark Net which takes a broad approach to innovation.

Both developments are bringing enormous benefits to the region’s future economic well-being, and I’d just like to add a few words about why CDDC and Durham County Council, in guiding and shaping that economic future, place so much faith in science, engineering and technology.

Our objective is to utilise knowledge intensive activities to help build a robust and strong economy in County Durham.

It’s about the application of science and about new techniques. With world-leading research in the five universities in the region there’s no shortage of ideas. With the Centres of Excellence established by One North East, we have science, engineering and technology firmly positioned at the heart of our regional strategy.

And with locations like NETPark we have the innovation connectors that unite the ideas and discoveries with the new techniques and processes that will see the ideas emerge as commercial products.

Having a UK national flagship facility like the Printable Electronics Technology Centre (Petec) at NETPark gives it added significance because it typifies the application of science for practical purposes.

Over the centuries mankind has advanced by a combination of discoveries in the application of power, materials and production and Petec is about all three.

So, as we stand at a new stage of our economic development, we congratulate The Journal for providing the ideal platform for showcasing the North East’s key contribution to science, engineering and technology.