ECONOMIC links between the North-East and northern France have had a welcome boost thanks to a new agreement between organisations in the two countries.

RTC North, based in Sunderland, is the lead partner in the Innovation Relay Centre for the North of England (IRC North).

IRC North involves six partner organisations, working to encourage technology transfer between the countries.

Part of the European IRC network, IRC North is the first trans-national centre and the partnership has worked hard in the past year to establish and develop strong links between companies in England and France.

For North-East businesses this means easy access to existing networks of contacts in France, facilitation of links with French companies, access to staff secondment and student placement schemes, as well as opportunities for joint research ventures and acquisition of new technologies.

Barbara Allen, Anglo-French coordinator for RTC North, said: "There have been a lot of links forged between the two countries and a lot of work has gone on behind the scenes, but the results are already starting to benefit local firms.

"We are working with our partners in France on a day-to-day basis and this relationship means that we can provide the most direct route into the French market for North-East companies."

IRC North was at the international healthcare trade fair Cap Sant, in Amiens. It paid off with leads for North-East companies, including Hadrian Medical, Provedia, DA Supplies, MKW and Octo Products.