THE consortium leading the campaign for the North-East to become home to a £1bn energy research centre last night declared it was more confident than ever before.

As the region's bid leaders prepared to put their case to an Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) panel in London today, the consortium revealed that hopes were high the region will be chosen ahead of Scotland and the Midlands.

The bid to host a centre of energy excellence, which will lead to £1bn investment and create thousands of jobs, has received backing from more than 100 leading industry figures and academics around the world.

It has also been supported by regional development agency One NorthEast and Minister for the North-East Nick Brown.

The bid's high-profile supporters have been hailed as crucial and can help to vouch for the region's already world-leading capabilities in the energy sector.

Neville Chamberlain, chairman of Northern Way, a group driven by the three northern regional development agencies, said the bid could close the North and South divide.

He said: "We regard the ETI as one of the most exciting developments for a generation, in supporting innovation and technological progress and to ensure greater sustainability of our economy.

"The development of a strong infrastructure to support technological progress and innovation is a crucial underpinning of the Northern Way's strategy to raise the sustainable growth rate of the North. An ETI based in the North-East would find a strong partner in the Northern Way."

The North-East's campaign has been boosted this week by the development of international links with Dubai, thanks to flights from Newcastle.

Japanese energy experts from firms including Hitachi, Nissan and Sanyo have also looked at opportunities in the region.

The North-East's consortium comprises Newcastle, Durham and Northumbria universities, the Centre for Process Innovation on Teesside, and the New and Renewable Energy Centre (Narec) in Northumberland.

Professor Paul Younger, bid co-ordinator, said: "Our team believes passionately that the ETI would thrive in North-East England and is committed to bringing the project to its natural home."

Back the campaign online at http://eti.ncl.ac.uk