THE combined strengths of academia and industry will come together to push forward an initiative to make the region a leader in the world of processing.
The newly-formed Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), chaired by Bob Coxon, senior vice-president of ICI, will combine the resources and expertise of the region's five universities.
All have accepted an invitation to sit alongside industry on the management committee (board) of the CPI, which is one of five centres of excellence established by One NorthEast to co-ordinate innovation and commercial development in key industrial sectors.
Mr Coxon said: "University involvement is already adding new dimensions to major research programmes initiated by the CPI to give North-East-based industries an edge in two key technology areas - the development of new products through the exploitation of material properties and advanced manufacturing.
"I am delighted that we have been able to go a stage further by uniting our universities and businesses in planning future research and development strategies."
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