The next generation of products and clean industries will continue to be developed in the Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool thanks to a new multi-million-pound innovation programme announced by Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen.
Mayor Houchen has unveiled a near £20m fund that will be used to invest in a number of infrastructure projects which are being carried out by the Tees Valley’s research and innovation centres, with bioscience, clean transport and digital technologies amongst the sectors set to benefit.
The projects include a new bioscience incubator at Central Park in Darlington with state-of-the-art laboratory facilities that will build on the success of the National Horizons Centre, and the creation of a new innovation facility that will focus on clean growth, hydrogen and the circular economy.
The facility will offer office and project space for companies locating onto the South Tees Development Corporation site, incubator and large-scale demonstration facilities, and an open access innovation centre focused on decarbonisation, hydrogen and the circular economy.
This will deliver a gateway to the wider STDC site providing office accommodation and meeting space for companies locating onto the site.
The funding will also be used to support Mayor Houchen’s commitment to delivering hydrogen fuelling stations, as well as supporting training and other activities around the digital sector.
Today’s agreement will see £19 million spent over the next five years on the projects, subject to the approval of individual business cases.
Mayor Houchen said: “There is some truly amazing ground-breaking work going on right here in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool, with our highly skilled workers using their expertise in a range of sectors, from clean energy and next-generation manufacturing to bioscience and digital.
“These are the products and processes of the future and are key sectors we need to support, and we as a region are leading the way. This investment will help our first-class research and innovation centres expand their work and create jobs in the sectors we are championing.
“Creating the jobs of tomorrow means investing in the right technology today. I’m delighted that this funding will support a number of significant projects, helping to put us firmly on the map when it comes to clean industry and innovation.”
