The Centre For Process Innovation is helping power the region as worldclass centre for sector development.
Earlier this year Wilton-based CPI merged with Newcastle's Centre of Excellence for Nano, Micro and Photonic Systems (Cenamps) to drive industry-led growth.
It hopes to pull in £10m-£15m of investment annually and increase its team of staff from a combined total of 70 to 100.
Together, the centres are championing four key technology areas - advanced processes, low carbon energy, functional materials and printable electronics.
As well as the Wilton HQ, CPI has bases at Sedgefield's NETPark, Gateshead and Newcastle University.
£4.1m Building
Recent investments include a new development centre for printable electronics at NETPark.
The 3,500sq m £4.1m building for PETeC (Plastic Electronics Technology Centre), will create an internationally recognised facility for the development and commercialisation of printed electronic devices and flexible functional materials, such as those going into the manufacture of future products, including 'fold-up' TVs.
Its aim is to hothouse smaller companies wanting to break into the sector.
Ground-Breaking
The organisation has also developed the Fuel Cell Application Facility at Wilton to push forward green energy schemes.
Projects have included a ground-breaking environmentally-friendly fuel cell to power the lighthouse at South Gare.
And CPI has opened the £12m National Industrial Biotechnology Facility at Wilton, which will transform the way vital chemicals used to make millions of everyday products are manufactured.
Nigel Perry, chief executive of CPI, said: "Since being established by One North-East four years ago, both CPI and Cenamps have worked to connect academia and industry and encourage market-led innovation, for the benefit of the region and its businesses.
In this time, the established process industry on Teesside and across the North-east has been revitalised.
Processing is moving forward at a great pace and only those organisations which continually innovate and evolve will keep up with the marketplace.
This takes our work to the next level and gives us critical mass to accelerate the pace of our work"
Planned Portfolio
A networking site exclusively for employers, jobseekers and those already working in Teesside's booming process sector has been launched.
The first in a planned portfolio of dedicated sites developed by the Evening Gazette for key industries in the area, it features the latest news and in-depth analysis together with information on recruitment and training, supported by key organisations and businesses.
With quick links to the existing Living on Teesside family of award-winning sites built by the Gazette Communities network, Working in Teesside in the Chemical Industry, will promote Tees Valley as THE place to build a career and a family.
Drawing from content compiled by our business journalists working for a wide range of titles, including the North East Vision magazine, Tees Pride, and nebusiness.co.uk print and internet
publications, the site will bring together an invaluable resource of industry information over the coming months, backed by bloggers who will give their regular, lighter views of what it's like to live and work on Teesside.
There will also be a chance to take part in forums and polls, grill the sector experts and discover more about the local area, including property and schools.
To view the site, go to: http://workinginteesside.gazettelive.co.uk/