A SERVICE which aims to boost the region's economy has been launched by a North-East university.

Northumbria University's One Stop Shop for research and consultancy is a service making it easier for business to contact research and consultancy experts in the university.

Bob Coxon, deputy chairman of the Science and Industry Council North-East, officially launches the service today.

Businesses across the world, as well as in the North-East, can tap into the university's expertise via the university website.

Mr Coxon said: "It is essential for the economic prosperity of the North-East that businesses have the opportunity to work closely with the universities and tap into their considerable knowledge and expertise."

The online service is backed up by an online directory, which gives information on each of the university's areas of expertise.

The service has been pioneered by Professor John Ditch, pro vice-chancellor for research at Northumbria.

He said: "Working closely with business, sharing our expertise and transferring our knowledge into the business environment is key to the future prosperity of the North-East and we recognised that it was essential for us to make that process as straightforward as possible.

"The One Stop Shop will make our skilled researchers and consultants readily and easily accessible to business."

Visit the website at www.northumbria.ac.uk/ researchandconsultancy.