Member Article

UK's top scientists head to North East

The North East is set to host dozens of the UK’s leading scientists and scientific policymakers next month at the third Science Cities Summit. Entitled ‘The Triple Helix in Action: Opportunities and Obstacles,’ the conference aims to chart progress made across the UK in building ‘Triple Helix’ partnerships of business, universities and government through the Science Cities initiative.

The Science Cities initiative aims to make science, technology and innovation the engine of economic growth over the next ten years and beyond. Newcastle is one of the six Science Cities across the country, and sits alongside Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Nottingham and York in a group designated by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown in 2004.

Professor John Goddard of Newcastle University, current Chair of the Science Cities Development Group, said: “There has already been a great deal of work done towards enhancing the UK’s worldwide reputation for scientific excellence through the Science Cities initiative, but there is still much to do and many opportunities to be fully addressed. “The Summit will enable representatives of the Science Cities to share some of the best practice from their work so far with their peers, and to take away new ideas and ways of working that will enhance the speed and direction of their future progress.”

Sarah Stewart, director of Newcastle Science City, adds: “North East England is already home to an amazing number of scientific research projects and international leaders in their fields. “The Science City initiative aims to build on these foundations to ensure we are recognised as one of the pre-eminent locations for scientific research, personnel and facilities, and we are very pleased to be welcoming such a distinguished number of delegates to our region.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .