About the Strategy for Success

The aim of the Strategy for Success is to develop, based on existing strengths, leading expertise within the North East in emerging technologies for growing markets, and in the exploitation of those technologies. The initial level of resources committed to the programme was £200m over 6 years. Further investment will be made in this vital area of activity although increasingly we will be looking for funding from other sources, including the private sector.

Initial activity – from 2001 – of the Strategy for Success focused on the establishment of mechanisms to kick-start a step-change in regional leadership and in the degree to which the value of the Region’s R&D base is utilised to maximum effect. Five Centres of Excellence – in the key technology areas of Digital Technology & Media, Life Sciences, Nanotechnology, New & Renewable Energy, and Process Innovation – were established to shape research from the perspective of market need, manage translational research and effect industrial application. Each of these Centres concentrates on building critical mass in niches where the Region has particularly significant opportunities. NStar, an early stage venture company, was created to invest £33m of funding in innovative technologies. The Science and Industry Council was established to provide high-level direction and advice.

There have been a number of major successes, both regionally and specifically resulting from the Strategy for Success, during this phase. For example:

• Expenditure on research and development by business more than doubled between 2002 and 2003;
• The level of technology start-ups has leapt from one of the lowest levels in the country to the highest in the country;
• Major globally significant scientific breakthroughs;
• Regional companies are now attracting substantial interest from international funding providers;
• Major private and public sector research and prototyping facilities attracted.

The next phase of activity makes a number of modifications to the Strategy for Success to achieve greater levels of impact. Based on the potential of industry to exploit emerging and existing opportunities, the North East is focusing on building internationally competitive clusters in Energy and the Environment, Healthcare and Health Sciences, and Process Industries. These three ‘pillars’ integrate the Centres of Excellence with industry and other related initiatives. They each have their own Leadership Councils and are underpinned by: the universities; a Centre for Enabling Technologies; NStar; digital technology and e-business support; and management skills development. A number of additional elements are being added, particularly concentrating on design.

There will also be a focus on ensuring that we have the right physical infrastructure suitable for innovating businesses. While a number of locations throughout the Region will be strategically important, Newcastle Science City will initially be the most prominent opportunity.