THE relationship between industry and higher education has become increasingly well developed in the region.

The University of Durham, a major player in the NetPark development, is one of the UK's premier research and teaching universities, with world-class expertise in science, engineering and technology, health, social science, languages, arts and humanities. It has two campuses, one in Durham City and a smaller one at Stockton.

The university's expertise is at the service of local, regional, national and international businesses through:

* Contract research work in departments and research centres

* High quality graduates

* Durham University Mountjoy Science Park

* Industrial research laboratories

* The Business School and Foundation for SME development

* Conference and seminar facilities

* Library, IT and language support network.

The university has 10,000 undergraduate and 2,500 postgraduate students in 35 disciplines, from arts to science.

It is one of the top ten universities in the national teaching league tables and its graduates are widely regarded as among the best in the UK.

It is a high quality research university, the majority of which is in science and technology. Much of this research has strong links with industry. Science and technology research strengths include photonics (advanced imaging); Nanotechnology, spanning physics, chemistry, engineering, life and bio sciences; materials technologies including the synthesis and design of new polymers; particle physics; cosmology, astrophysics and astronomy; bio-science; computer science and engineering, ranking fourth in the UK for general engineering and 11th in Europe.

Its Wolfson Research Institute is a new research building housing research centres in: psychology, biological sciences/medicine and health, and the environment. The International Boundaries Research Institute (IBRU) is the only centre of its kind in the world and represents a unique source of information and expertise on boundary and territorial issues worldwide.

It offers a number of consultancy services and has undertaken research for a wide variety of clients including governments, international organisations, oil and shipping companies, international law firms, non-governmental agencies and academic institutions.