Science Minister visits Darlington's CPI at Central Park

Minister of State in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology George Freeman MP visited Darlington's Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) at Central Park today and toured the facility.

The visit comes after the centre last year benefitted from £10.65m in funding to boost the production of RNA (ribonucleic acid) technology - the same technology that was used to develop live-saving Covid-19 vaccines.

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Minister Freeman's visit was his 18th cluster visit on his national tour, where he was able to speak to scientists as well as look inside one of the working labs. 

George Freeman said he believes the North East is on the cusp of leading another industrial revolution around the world (Image: Newsquest)

After the tour, he said: "I genuinely think the North East is poised now and is on the cusp of leading another industrial revolution around the world - there has never been a more exciting time to be in the North East.

"Crucially, what we have in the North East are larger companies. They are driving the supply chains and pulling through. 

"It is not just a research economy, it's an industrial economy. That means big money, big jobs, big plans and a really big future - this is the North East economic renaissance."

On the tour, Minister Freeman took a look around the Microbial Process Development Lab, chatting to the researchers leading the way and hearing their concerns about the sector.

For the scientists themselves, their current setbacks in advancing their work include investors and capital - something the Minister has said the government is working to change by removing financial restrictions, focusing tax credits to smaller companies and investing £20 billion in the sector.

He said: "We are removing post-financial crash regulations in the city on £4 trillion pounds of pension stocks in London, almost none of which is used in private stocks let alone small companies.

"We are going to allow a fraction of that to go into the economy - which will unlock billions for small companies."

Another point of discussion was education, with the Minister stating the government does need to "go further" to encourage children from the North East to choose STEM careers and fill jobs in places like the CPI.

George Freeman speaks to Northern Echo reporter Kayleigh Fraser at CPI in Darlington today (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

He said: "We have made real progress with education but we do need to go further. In our schools, there is real excellence here in the North East but there are too many schools below average.

"T-Levels, apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships have been massively successful. A number of people I have met here at the CPI have come through that apprenticeship programme.

"Children leaving school or studying for their A-Levels in the North East need to recognise that they could read a subject where you will end up for a loan or debt, or you can leave and go into an industry that will pay for you to get into a job."

Darlington MP Peter Gibson expressed his delight at Minister Freeman's visit, praising not only the investment into the sector but the job opportunities that come with it.

"It is wonderful to welcome another Minister to Darlington today to celebrate the investment that is going into our town", he said. 

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"There are some fantastic things that are happening in terms of investment and they are continuing to happen. We have seen investment in the train station, the Royal Heritage Quarter and the town centre.

He added: "But, we have also seen investment in technology such as in CPI, there are some really amazing things happening in our community.

"There are greater, better life-changing career and job opportunities for people in our communities from these investments."