A SCHEME offering businesses access to the latest digital research and expertise is celebrating its first anniversary.

Codeworks Nitro, a collaboration between Sunderland, Newcastle, Northumbria and Teesside universities, helps digital companies in the region by giving them access to some of the world's best facilities.

This includes an eye-tracker system at Sunderland, which allows companies to test the usability of their website or online system, an interaction lab at Northumbria and a virtual reality suite at Newcastle.

The project, based at Sunderland University's riverside campus, also offers smaller companies expert support to help them target contracts.

Professor Gilbert Cockton, director of Nitro, said: "There is such a wealth of talent in the region, especially among small-to-medium-sized enterprises and in universities.

"Nitro has demonstrated that digital research and development teams in universities can work successfully with local companies to enhance their bids for major contracts and compete on a national level."

The project, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, has also taken on its 100th client - entrepreneur support business the Bridge Club.

Owner Caroline Theobald said: "The organisation responded in a timely and professional fashion and provided us with an excellent temporary addition to our small team, who identified new and profitable markets for us to explore."

For details, visit www.codeworksnitro.net