A WEEK-LONG event has been held to look at the contribution the science sector makes to the regional and national economy.

York Festival of Science was held this week to look at how the county's high-tech sector is growing, and the contribution its 410 bioscience organisations and 9,600 employees make to the Yorkshire and UK economy.

The event was held 176 years after the British Association for the Advancement of Science was founded in the city, which was set up to bring the benefits of science to the wider economy.

In 2005, York was named one of the UK's Science Cities by the Government, and has been given £2.85m to help expand the sector further.

Science and Innovation Minister Ian Pearson said: "York and North Yorkshire has become an exciting and dynamic region for bioscience innovation, commercialisation and investment.

"Science and innovation is crucial to our future economy -it is a key catalyst that drives new ideas, creates new products and markets, and increases our competitiveness."

US laboratory instrument company MatriCal moved its European headquarters to York last year.

Dermot Boylan, the UK director of MatriCal, said the decision was taken on the area's reputation as a centre of research excellence and low operating costs.

Denise Stuart, the chief executive of business promotion agency york-england.com, said: "We are seeing more and more bioscience companies moving to York and North Yorkshire, attracted not only by our track record for leading-edge science, high-quality of life and high-quality staff, but also by the prospect of being part of a dynamic and entrepreneurial bio-business culture."