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Innovation Village created at NETPark

A North East centre for science and technology is set to grow as work starts on new research and development accommodation at NETPark. NETPark, in County Durham, is home to high-tech companies aiming to distinguish the North East as a national leader in the fields of micro-electronics, nanotechnology, plastic electronics and medical technologies.

The site is already home to a research institute run by Durham University and the NETPark Incubator which houses companies such as Durham Scientific Crystals, ANT and ROAR and now there are six more buildings going up at NETPark.

In addition to the Plastic Electronics Centre which is already under construction, work has now begun on the next stage of NETPark’s development, the ‘Innovation Village’, which will allow firms in the incubator to expand and establish larger operations on the site. It is hoped that the village will also attract companies to the region looking to take advantage of the of NETPark’s services, and to collaborate with the North East’s five universities.

Stewart Watkins, managing director of County Durham Development Company (CDDC) which manages and runs NETPark, said: “We are extremely proud of the scientific advances made and the expertise concentrated on the site, but this development is not simply one for the white coats. We predict that the second phase of NETPark’s development will generate many jobs ranging from highly-skilled scientists and technicians through to administrators and cleaners.

“It is important to see the positive effect the development will have on the region’s economy as a whole, creating new jobs, attracting new businesses and retaining a skilled workforce in the area.”

Mark Pearson, Business Strategy Manager at One NorthEast, said: “Innovation Village has the potential to create hundreds of high quality jobs and support the creation of new companies, as well as attracting investment from leading companies looking for skilled people, access to technology, close proximity to a leading research university and a high quality business environment, which is fantastic news for North East England.”

For more about NETPark, visit www.uknetpark.net.

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