Boost for Teesside chemical industry

The new centre will be at the former ICI-Wilton plant

The Tees Valley could become a world class centre for industry innovation after it was confirmed as the location for a new research and development facility.

The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) will be officially announced at the ex-ICI site at the Wilton Centre in May this year.

It is hoped the CPI will be able to secure additional funding for research and act as a catalyst for the growth of other chemical companies in the area.

The centre will focus on research and development in process industries such as chemistry, chemical engineering, engineering, physics and life sciences.

'Exciting news'

Professor Janet Bainbridge, chief executive of the European Process Industries Competitiveness Centre (Epicc), said it will put the area on the map.

She told BBC Radio Cleveland: "It means a great deal of excitement for Teesside, for the North East and indeed for the UK.

"This new centre for process innovation, we believe is really going to make a difference and put Teesside right there in the heart of the research community.

"Most importantly, it will also put it at the heart of the process innovation industry."