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Sunderland Software City celebrate Four Million investment

Sunderland’s reputation for supporting software excellence has been given another boost, thanks to a recent £4 million investment.

As well as cementing the city as a world leader in software innovation, it will create a further 350 jobs in the industry.

Sunderland Software City received £1.86 million from the European Regional Development Fund, along with match funding from Sunderland City Council.

They will now work to develop knowledge assets and physical infrastructure by providing services to develop and grow the North East software industry.

Chief executive officer at Sunderland Software City Bernie Callaghan is now on a mission to get Sunderland recognised nationally and internationally as the home of software innovation.

He commented: “ Although this is a hugely ambitious target, we feel we ahve made tremendous progress in the last few years and are looking forward to taking the project to the next level.

“This news follows a great deal of hard work behind the scenes between ourselves, Sunderland City Council and the European Regional Development team at the Department of Communities and Local Government, and I’d like to personally thank all those involved.”

Since it was established in 2008, Sunderland Software City has helped over 200 established business and start ups, as well as creating nearly 100 new knowledge intensive jobs.

The latest investment will contribute further to enterprise development activity, as well as funding an enhanced and extended support officer for businesses. It will also provide further access to relevant technologies and e-business grants.

Communities Minister Baroness Hanham CBE said: “This worthwhile project will help provide the required support for new business ideas to succeed and also help attract new interest in innovation and technology.

“The Sunderland Software City initiative is developing the knowledge assets and physical infrastructure by providing a wide variety of services aimed at developing and growing the software industry in the North East.”

Sunderland Software City has been identified as an innovation connector in the European Regional Development fund 2007-13 programme, and will bring together research, education, skills development and acces to employment.

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