The North East England ETI Bid Team would like to extend our sincere thanks to all of our supporters for their considerable efforts during the course of the ETI bidding process.
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The North East England Consortium will now continue to work together under the working title of Energy Research North East England, to rightly establish this region as the energy capital of the UK.
The bidding process has elevated this region into a much stronger position to attract investment, and has generated and built on the tremendous opportunities that are in the pipeline for the renewables sector here, which promise significant new jobs and investment. Backed by a range of international industrial and academic figureheads, the support that we received for our ETI bid was both overwhelming and uplifting; long may this continue.
One NorthEast (ONE) has identified energy as one of three key areas for development over the next 20 years, with the potential to generate around £2bn for new economic growth for the region's economy. The ETI bid demonstrated that collaborations work well in the North East. Already estimated to be worth around £900m, the energy sector is also one of the most productive sectors in the region, employing around 30,000 people with more than £6bn is currently being invested in novel energy projects over the next few years. ONE has invested over £100m in recent years and public sector investment will continue; ONE has committed a further £100m of public funds to energy R&D over the next five years.
The joint efforts so far have demonstrated our unrivalled strengths and we will build on these. We will advance our collaborative approach to new and renewable energy research and exploitation, and look forward to welcoming other businesses that share our vision. We also anticipate that key elements of the ETI project will eventually find a home in the North East.
Professor Paul Younger
Co-ordinator, Energy Research North East England