SOME of the North-East’s most goahead companies have set out what the Government must do to drive the region’s economy forward.

The organisations, which include software firm Sage, Thorn Lighting, BT and the University of Teesside, have made a series of demands to the Government which they say will be crucial to any future success and growth through innovation.

They were brought together by the North-East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) and have contributed to a report entitled Exploiting Ideas which calls for: ● An increase in tax advantages for investment in research and development and in innovative businesses; ● A commitment from the public sector to shorter timescales for decisions on funding; ● The setting up a “training credits”

scheme to help North-East firms to train staff in technical skills at universities in the region; ● Resources to be directed to economically important fields of study; ● More Government funded research jobs to be attracted to the region; ● A clear point of access for businesses with public sector bodies such as the NHS.

The report, which will be officially launched at the NECC’s annual meeting in Durham tomorrow, also recommends focusing public investment on existing schemes aimed at improving innovation such as the science and technology NETPark, in Sedgefield, and Newcastle’s Science City project, rather than creating additional new initiatives.

Chris Millman, chairman of the NECC’s innovation group and BT North East regional board member, said: “The North-East already has much to celebrate in the innovative nature of its businesses.

“However, the region needs to encourage and enable greater innovation within its dynamic business sector if we are to truly make a long-term difference.

“More businesses need to find ways to connect to innovation support and it needs to be rolled out beyond particular clusters which have received specific attention – including making a much bigger impact on the service sector.

“Acting now to give North-East companies the best chance of doing this will not just offer immediate assistance to help in the recovery, but will continue to build a solid platform for future growth of the North-East economy well into the future.”